Power source apparatus and work machine having the same

ABSTRACT

A power source apparatus includes a plurality of batteries, a blower having a blowing portion arranged on one side of the batteries, the blower being configured to blow air from the blowing portion, a chassis having an inner space surrounded by a plurality of wall surfaces that include a first wall surface and a second wall surface and storing the batteries in the inner space. The power source apparatus includes an air introduction path formed between the first wall surface and the batteries, the air introduction path being configured to introduce the air to the batteries, and a flow path formed between the second wall surface and the batteries, the flow path being configured to introduce the air blown from the blower to the air introduction path, the air introduction path having at least partially a first cross-sectional area larger than a second cross-sectional area of the flow path.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toJapanese Patent Application No. 2017-021440, filed Feb. 8, 2017, and toJapanese Patent Application No. 2017-021441, filed Feb. 8, 2017. Thecontents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power source apparatus and to a workmachine having the power source apparatus.

Discussion of the Background

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-216070 discloses apower source apparatus (a battery pack).

The power source apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015-216070 includes a plurality of battery modules, ablower configured to blow air, a chassis configured to store theplurality of battery modules. The battery module forms a plurality ofventilation holes on an upper surface of the battery module and on thelower surface, the ventilation holes being provided for passing the airthrough the battery module. The blower is arranged below the batterymodule. A path (a side portion path) is formed between a side surface ofthe battery module and a side wall surface of a chassis. The air blownform the blower flows into the path. Another path (an upper portionpath) is formed between an upper surface of the battery module and anupper wall surface of the chassis. The air having passed through theside portion path flows into the other path. The air blown from theblower passes through the ventilation hole formed on the upper surfaceof the battery module and flows into the battery module after flowing inthe side portion path and flowing into the upper portion path, and thenpasses through the ventilation hole formed on the lower surface of thebattery module and is exhausted from the battery module. In this manner,the battery module is cooled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A power source apparatus of the present invention includes a pluralityof batteries, a blower having a blowing portion arranged on one side ofthe batteries, the blower being configured to blow air from the blowingportion, a chassis having an inner space surrounded by a plurality ofwall surfaces that include a first wall surface and a second wallsurface and storing the batteries in the inner space. The first wallsurface is arranged on the other side of the batteries, the other sidebeing opposite to the one side of the batteries. The second wall surfaceis connected to the first wall surface and extending from the first wallsurface toward the blower. The power source apparatus includes an airintroduction path formed between the first wall surface and thebatteries, the air introduction path being configured to introduce theair to the batteries, and a flow path formed between the second wallsurface and the batteries, the flow path being configured to introducethe air blown from the blower to the air introduction path, the airintroduction path having at least partially a first cross-sectional arealarger than a second cross-sectional area of the flow path.

A working machine of the present invention includes a machine body, anoperation device disposed on the machine body, a rotating electricalapparatus to generate a motive power used for driving the operationdevice, and a power source apparatus to supply an electric power to therotating electrical apparatus, the power source apparatus having aconfiguration mentioned above.

Another power source apparatus of the present invention includes abattery module including a plurality of batteries, a housingconstituting a housing chamber to house the battery module, a blowerarranged on one side of the battery module. The blower includes ablowing portion to blow air and an intake portion to take the air. Thepower source apparatus includes a chassis having an inner spacesurrounded by a plurality of wall surfaces that include a first wallsurface, a second wall surface, and a third surface and storing thehousing in the inner space. The first wall surface is disposed on theother side of the battery module, the other side being opposite to theone side of the module. The second wall surface is connected to thefirst wall surface and extending from the first wall surface toward theblower. The third wall surface is disposed on the one side of thebattery module and being opposed to the first wall surface. The powersource apparatus includes an air introduction path formed between thefirst surface wall and the battery module, the air introduction pathbeing configured to introduce the air that is to be taken into thehousing chamber and having a pressure higher than a pressure in thehousing chamber, an intake chamber is formed between the third wallsurface and the battery module, the intake chamber having the intakeportion and having a pressure lower than the pressure in the housingchamber, and a communication path formed between the second wall surfaceand the battery module, the communication path passing outside thehousing chamber and coupling the air introduction path to the blowingportion.

Another working machine of the present invention includes a machinebody, an operation device disposed on the machine body, a rotatingelectrical apparatus to generate a motive power used for driving theoperation device, and a power source apparatus to supply an electricpower to the rotating electrical apparatus, the power source apparatushaving a configuration mentioned above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a plan view of a power source apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in IV-IV of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in V-V of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the power source apparatusaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the power source apparatus accordingto the embodiment under a state where a lid is removed;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a main body of a chassis, a blower, aheat exchanger, and a separating plate according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the main body of the chassisand the separating plate each seen downwardly from the left rearaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the housing and batteries (amodule assembly) each seen upwardly from the right rear according to theembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a supporting body, theblower, and the heat exchanger each seen downwardly from the right rearaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a first modified example of the powersource apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a second modified example of the powersource apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a first example of a diffusing portionaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a second example of the diffusing portionaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a third example of the diffusing portionaccording to the embodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a side surface view illustrating a working machine accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding oridentical elements throughout the various drawings. The drawings are tobe viewed in an orientation in which the reference numerals are viewedcorrectly.

Referring to drawings, embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below, the embodiments explaining a power source apparatus anda working machine having the power source apparatus.

The power source apparatus will be explained first.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, a power source apparatus 1 includes abattery 2, a chassis 3, a housing 4, a blower 5, and a heat exchanger 6.In the embodiment, the battery 2, the housing 4, the blower 5, and theheat exchanger 6 are stored in an internal space of the chassis 3.

For convenience of the explanation, regarding a direction of arrangementof the power source apparatus 1, a direction of arrangement of the powersource apparatus 1 mounted on a working machine 100 described below isreferred to as a reference direction. In particular, a directionindicated by an arrowed line A in the drawings is referred to as a frontdirection, a direction indicated by an arrowed line B in the drawings isreferred to as a rear direction, a direction indicated by an arrowedline C in the drawings is referred to as a front to rear direction (or arear to front direction), a direction indicated by an arrowed line D inthe drawings is referred to as a right direction, a direction indicatedby an arrowed line E in the drawings is referred to as a left direction,and a direction indicated by an arrowed line F in the drawings isreferred to as a chassis width direction (a lateral direction) or aright to left direction (or a left to right direction).

In addition, a direction indicated by an arrowed line G in the drawingsis referred to as an upper direction, a direction indicated by anarrowed line H in the drawings is referred to as a lower direction, anda direction indicated by an arrowed line I in the drawings is referredto as a vertical direction or an upper to lower direction (or a lower toupper direction). However, the direction of arrangement of the powersource apparatus 1 is not restricted by the directions indicated in thedrawings, and may be arbitrarily changed in consideration of aninstallation place of the power source apparatus 1 and of a relationbetween the peripheral devices.

<Battery>

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, and the like, the power source apparatus 1includes a plurality of batteries 2. The batteries 2 may be the batterycells, and may be the battery module including a plurality of thebattery cells (also referred to as the battery stack). In theembodiment, the batteries 2 are the battery module 7.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 and the like, the battery module 7 includesa plurality of the battery cells 8. In particular, the battery module 7is constituted of the plurality of battery cells 8 that are integratedand electrically connected in series. Each of the battery cells 8 is forexample a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery, a lithium ionsecondary battery, an organic radical battery, or the like. Each of thebattery cell 8 has a flattened rectangular shape that has a length inone direction (a thickness direction) shorter than a length in the otherdirection.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the plurality of battery cells 8are arranged in parallel (that is, stacked) and housed in an externalcase 10. The external case 10 is for example constituted of metals orresins having the electrical insulation property. In the embodiment, theexternal case 10 has a substantially-rectangular shape. Each of a frontsurface, a rear surface, and a lower surface of the external case 10 isconstituted of a closed surface (a surface having no opening) that doesnot allow the air to pass through (to penetrate).

A left surface and a right surface of the external case 10 are openingsurfaces allowing the air to pass through, and communicate with aninter-cell path 11 described below. An opening is formed on an uppersurface of the external case 10, the opening being provided for exposinga bus bar 9 described below. However, the opening allows little(substantially does not allow) the air to pass through.

A direction of parallel arrangement of the battery cells 8 (a stackingdirection) is the thickness direction of the battery cell 8. In theembodiment, the direction of parallel arrangement of the battery cells 8corresponds to the front to rear direction C (the chassis widthdirection). As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the inter-cell path 11 isformed between the battery cells 8 adjacent to each other in the frontto rear direction C that is the direction of parallel arrangement (thestacking direction), the inter-cell path 11 being configured to allowthe air flow. The battery cell 8 includes electrode terminals (apositive terminal and a negative terminal) projecting from the externalcase 10.

The bus bar 9 electrically connects between the heteropolar terminals ofthe battery cells 8 adjacent to each other, that is, the electrodeterminals projecting from the external case 10 adjacent to each other.The bus bar 9 is connected to the electrode terminal by the welding, thescrew, or the like. The terminals arranged on both sides of theplurality of the battery cells 8 receives an electric power from outsideand discharges the electric power to other electric apparatuses, theplurality of the battery cells 8 being electrically connected to eachother in the above-mentioned manner.

The power source apparatus 1 includes one or a plurality of batterymodules 7. The power source apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment includes a plurality of the battery modules 7. That is, thepower source apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes theplurality of battery modules 7 as the plurality of batteries 7. As shownin FIG. 6, FIG. 7, the plurality of battery modules 7 are arranged inboth of the right to left direction F and in the front to rear directionC.

For convenience of the explanation, the right to left direction F may bereferred to as “a first parallel arrangement direction”, and the frontto rear direction C may be referred to as “a second parallel arrangementdirection”. In addition, the plurality of battery modules 7 may becollectively referred to as “a module assembly 20”.

In the embodiment, the number of the battery modules 7 is eight. Eightbattery modules 7 are arranged such that four battery modules 7 arearranged in the right to left direction F (the first parallelarrangement direction) and two battery modules are arranged in the frontto rear direction C (the second parallel arrangement direction).However, the number of the battery modules 7, the number of the batterymodules 7 arranged in the first parallel arrangement direction, and thenumber of the battery modules 7 arranged in the second parallelarrangement direction may be changed on the basis of the specificationsor the like required for the power source apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, an inter-module path 12 is formed betweenthe battery modules 7 adjacent to each other in the right to leftdirection F (the first parallel arrangement direction), the inter-modulepath 12 being configured to allow the air flow.

The inter-module path 12 includes a first inter-module path 12A and asecond inter-module path 12B. The first inter-module path 12A and thesecond inter-module path 12B are extend in the upper to lower direction.The first inter-module path 12A and the second inter-module path 12B arealternately arranged in the first parallel arrangement direction (theright to left direction F). In the present embodiment, the firstinter-module path 12A is arranged in a center of the battery module 7 inthe first parallel arrangement direction (the right to left directionF).

The second inter-module path 12B is arranged on a position separatingfrom the first inter-module path 12A and disposes one battery module 7between the first inter-module path 12A and the second inter-module path12B. The present embodiment employs two second inter-module paths 12B.One of the second inter-module paths 12B is arranged on a positionseparating rightward from the first inter-module path 12A (arranged on asecond wall surface 32 side) and disposes one battery module 7 betweenthe first inter-module path 12A and the second inter-module path 12B.The other one of the second inter-module paths 12B is arranged on aposition separating leftward from the first inter-module path 12A(arranged on a fourth wall surface 34 side) and disposes one batterymodule 7 between the first inter-module path 12A and the secondinter-module path 12B.

The first inter-module path 12A is a path into which the air isintroduced, the air not having passed through the inter cell path 11 yet(the air not having cooled the battery cells 8 yet). The secondinter-module path 12B is a path into which the air is introduced, theair having passed through the inter cell path 11 already (the air havingcooled the battery cells 8 already). The flow of air in the inter-cellpath 11 and in the inter-module path 12 will be explained in detailbelow.

The number of the inter-module paths 12 (the first inter-module paths12A and the second inter-module paths 12B) are determined based on thenumber of the battery modules 7 arranged in the first parallelarrangement direction (the right to left direction F). That is, thenumber of the inter-module paths 12 is increased and decreased inaccordance with the increasing and decreasing of the number of thebattery modules 7 arranged in the first parallel arrangement direction.

<Chassis (Outline)>

The chassis 3 forms an inner space that is surrounded by a plurality ofwall surfaces (inner wall surfaces) and tightly closed. The batteries 2(the battery modules 7) and the like are stored in the inner space. Asshown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and the like, the plurality of wall surfacesincludes a first wall surface 31, a second wall surface 32, a third wallsurface 33, a fourth wall surface 34, a fifth wall surface 35, and asixth wall surface 36.

The first wall surface 31 is arranged on an upper side that is a firstside (another side) of the battery 2 (the battery module 7), and isopposed to the first side of the battery module 7. The second wallsurface 32, the fourth wall surface 34, the fifth wall surface 35, andthe sixth wall surface 36 are connected to the first wall surface 31 andextend downward, that is, toward a second side (one side) of the batterymodule 7 (the blower 5 side). The third wall surface 33 is arranged on alower side that is the second side (the one side) opposite to the firstside of the battery module 7, and is opposed to the first wall surface31.

The first wall surface (also referred to as a first lateral wallsurface) 31 constitutes an inner wall surface disposed on an upper sideof the chassis 3. The second wall surface 32 constitutes an inner wallsurface disposed on a right side of a lid 3B. The third wall surface(also referred to as a second lateral wall surface) 33 is opposed to thefirst wall surface 31 and constitutes a lower wall surface of thechassis 3. The fourth wall surface 34 is opposed to the second wallsurface 32 and constitutes an inner wall surface disposed on a left sideof the lid 3B. The fifth wall surface (also referred to as a secondvertical wall surface) 35 constitutes an inner wall surface disposed ona rear side of the chassis 3. The sixth wall surface (also referred toas a first vertical wall surface or a vertical wall surface) 36 isopposed to the fifth wall surface 35 and constitutes an inner wallsurface disposed on a front side of the lid 3B. The wall surfacesadjacent to each other are connected by a corner portion formed of acurved surface.

<Chassis (Details)>

A configuration of the chassis 3 will be explained below in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 and the like, the chassis 3 is constitutedof a main body 3A and the lid 3B.

A configuration of the main body 3A will be explained first.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and the like, the main body 3Aincludes a side wall 37, a bottom wall 38, and a flange portion 39.

The side wall 37 stands up from an outer edge of the bottom wall 38, andis constituted to have a shape of substantially-rectangular frame in atop view. The side wall 37 has four side walls (a front side wall 36A, arear side wall 35A, a left side wall 34A, and a right side wall 32A)respectively constituting a front side wall, a rear side wall, a leftside wall, and a right side wall of the main body 3A.

The right side wall 32A is arranged on a right portion of the main body3A. An inner surface of the right side wall 32A is oriented to faceleftward, and an outer surface of the right side wall 32A is oriented toface rightward. The left side wall 34A is arranged on a left portion ofthe main body 3A. An inner surface of the left side wall 34A is orientedto face rightward, and an outer surface of the left side wall 34A isoriented to face leftward. The rear side wall 35A is arranged on a rearportion of the main body 3A. An inner surface of the rear side wall 35Ais oriented to face forward, and an outer surface of the rear side wall35A is oriented to face backward. The front side wall 36A is arranged ona front portion of the main body 3A. An inner surface of the front sidewall 36A is oriented to face backward, and an outer surface of the frontside wall 36A is oriented to face forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right side wall 32A has a right upper portion 32a, a right intermediate portion 32 b, and a right lower portion 32 c.The right upper portion 32 a is positioned on an upper portion of themain body 3A (on an upper portion of the right side wall 32A). The rightintermediate portion 32 b is extended downward from a rear portion ofthe right upper portion 32 a, and forms a wall surface continuouslyconnected to the right upper portion 32 a. The right lower portion 32 cis positioned leftward below the right intermediate portion 32 b, and isconnected to the right intermediate portion 32 b by a second bottomintermediate portion 33 c of the bottom wall 38. The second bottomintermediate portion 33 c will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left side wall 34A has a left upper portion 34a, a left intermediate portion 34 b, and a left lower portion 34 c. Theleft upper portion 34 a is positioned on an upper portion of the mainbody 3A (on an upper portion of the left side wall 34A). The leftintermediate portion 34 b is positioned rightward below the left upperportion 34 a, and is connected to the left upper portion 34 a by abottom upper portion 33 a of the bottom wall 38. The bottom upperportion 33 a will be described below. The left lower portion 34 c ispositioned rightward below the left intermediate portion 34 b, and isconnected to the left intermediate portion 34 b by a first bottomintermediate portion 33 b of the bottom wall 38. The first bottomintermediate portion 33 b will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the rear side wall 35A has a rear upperportion 35 a, a rear intermediate portion 35 b, and a rear lower portion35 c. The rear upper portion 35 a, the rear intermediate portion 35 b,the rear lower portion 35 c form a wall surface sequentially continuedin the upper to lower direction. A left end of the rear upper portion 35a is connected to a left upper portion 34 a of the left side wall 34A. Aright end of the rear upper portion 35 a is connected to a right upperportion 32 a of the right side wall 32A.

The rear intermediate portion 35 b is extended downward from a rightportion of the rear upper portion 35 a. The left end of the rearintermediate portion 35 b is connected to the left intermediate portion34 b of the left side wall 34A. The right end of the rear intermediateportion 35 b is connected to the right intermediate portion 32 b of theright side wall 32A. The rear lower portion 35 c is extended downwardfrom a position close to a left portion of the rear intermediate portion35 b. The left end of the rear lower portion 35 c is connected to theleft lower portion 34 c of the left side wall 34A. The right end of therear lower portion 35 c is connected to the right lower portion 32 c ofthe right side wall 32A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front side wall 36A has a front upper portion 36a, a front intermediate portion 36 b, and a front lower portion 36 c. Aleft end of the front upper portion 36 a is connected to the left upperportion 34 a of the left side wall 34A. A right end of the front upperportion 36 a is connected to the right upper portion 32 a of the rightside wall 32A. The front intermediate portion 36 b is positionedbackward below the front upper portion 36 a, and is connected to thefront upper portion 36 a by a bottom upper portion 33 a of the bottomwall 38. The bottom upper portion 33 a will be explained below.

A left end of the front intermediate portion 36 b is connected to theleft intermediate portion 34 b of the left side wall 34A. A right end ofthe front intermediate portion 36 b is connected to the rightintermediate portion 32 b of the right side wall 32A. The front lowerportion 36 c is extended downward from a position close to a leftportion of the front intermediate portion 36 b. The front lower portion36 c forms a curved surface that shifts backward (toward the rear sidewall 35A side) downwardly. A left end of the front lower portion 36 c isconnected to the left lower portion 34 c of the left side wall 34A. Aright end of the front lower portion 36 c is connected to the rightlower portion 32 c of the right side wall 32A.

As shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, the bottom wall 38 is connected to a lowerend of the side wall 37 (the front side wall 36A, the rear side wall35A, the left side wall 34A, and the right side wall 32A). An innersurface of the bottom wall 38 is oriented to face upward, and an outersurface of the bottom wall 38 is oriented to face downward. As shown inFIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the bottom wall 38 has a bottom upper portion 33 a, afirst bottom intermediate portion 33 b, a second bottom intermediateportion 33 c, and a bottom lower portion 33 d.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom upper portion 33 a is formed to have asubstantially-L shape in a top view. The bottom upper portion 33 a isconnected to the following lower ends: a lower end of a front side ofthe right upper portion 32 a of the right side wall 32A (a lower end ofa portion that is not continuously connected to the right intermediateportion 32 b), a lower end of the left upper portion 34 a of the leftside wall 34A, a lower end of a left side of the rear upper portion 35 aof the rear side wall 35A (a lower end of a portion that is notcontinuously connected to the rear intermediate portion 35 b), and alower end of the front side wall 36A.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the first bottom intermediate portion 33b is positioned below the bottom upper portion 33 a. The first bottomintermediate portion 33 b is connected to the following end portions: alower end of the left intermediate portion 34 b of the left side wall34A, an upper end of the left lower portion 34 c of the left side wall34A, a lower end of a left side (the left side wall 34A side) of therear intermediate portion 35 b of the rear side wall 35A (a lower end ofa portion that is not continuously connected to the rear lower portion35 c), and a lower end of a left side of the front intermediate portion36 b of the front side wall 36A (a lower end of a portion that is notcontinuously connected to the front lower portion 36 c).

The second bottom intermediate portion 33 c is positioned below thefirst bottom intermediate portion 33 b. The second bottom intermediateportion 33 c is connected to the following end portions: a lower end ofthe right intermediate portion 32 b of the right side wall 32A, an upperend of the right lower portion 32 c of the right side wall 32A; a lowerend of a right side (the right side wall 32A side) of the rearintermediate portion 35 b of the rear side wall 35A (a lower end of aportion that is not continuously connected to the rear lower portion 35c), and a lower end of a right side of the front intermediate portion 36b of the front side wall 36A (a lower end of a portion that is notcontinuously connected to the front lower portion 36 c).

The bottom lower portion 33 d is positioned below the second bottomintermediate portion 33 c. The bottom lower portion 33 d is connected tothe following lower ends: a lower end of the right lower portion 32 c ofthe right side wall 32A, a lower end of the left lower portion 34 c ofthe left side wall 34A, a lower end of the rear lower portion 35 c ofthe rear side wall 35A, and a lower end of the front lower portion 36 cof the front side wall 36A.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the flange portion 39 isdisposed on a standing end portion (an upper end portion) of the sidewall 37. The flange portion 39 is extended outward from the upper endportion of the side wall 37 (in a direction separating from the innerspace of the chassis 3).

In particular, the flange portion 39 is disposed extending outward fromeach of the upper end portions of the front side wall 36A, the rear sidewall 35A, the left side wall 34A, and the right side wall 32A (extendingrightward from the right side wall 32A, leftward from the left side wall34A, backward from the rear side wall 35A, and forward from the frontside wall 36A).

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, a plurality of through holes 39 a and39 b are formed on the flange portion 39.

A configuration of the lid 3B will be explained next.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6, and the like, the lid 3B includes a sidewall 40, an upper wall 41, and a flange portion 42.

The side wall 40 is disposed extending downward from an outer edge ofthe upper wall 41, and is constituted to have a shape ofsubstantially-rectangular frame in a top view. The side wall 40 has fourside walls (a front side wall 36B, a rear side wall 35B, a left sidewall 34B, and a right side wall 32B) respectively constituting a frontside wall, a rear side wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall ofthe lid 3B.

The right side wall 32B is arranged on a right portion of the lid 3B. Aninner surface of the right side wall 32B is oriented to face leftward,and an outer surface of the right side wall 32B is oriented to facerightward. The left side wall 34B is arranged on a left portion of thelid 3B. An inner surface of the left side wall 34B is oriented to facerightward, and an outer surface of the left side wall 34B is oriented toface leftward. The rear side wall 35B is arranged on a rear portion ofthe lid 3B. An inner surface of the rear side wall 35B is oriented toface forward, and an outer surface of the rear side wall 35B is orientedto face backward. The front side wall 36B is arranged on a front portionof the lid 3B. An inner surface of the front side wall 36B is orientedto face backward, and an outer surface of the front side wall 36B isoriented to face forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right side wall 32B of the lid 3B is positionedabove the right side wall 32A of the main body 3A. As shown in FIG. 2,the left side wall 34B of the lid 3B is positioned above the left sidewall 34A of the main body 3A. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear side wall 35Bof the lid 3B is positioned above the rear side wall 35A of the mainbody 3A. As shown in FIG. 3, the front side wall 36B of the lid 3B ispositioned above the front side wall 36A of the main body 3A.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 6, the upper wall 41 includes afirst upper wall 41 a and a second upper wall 41 b. The first upper wall41 a and the second upper wall 41 b each have asubstantially-rectangular shape, and are continuously connected by oneside (a long side) of the rectangular shape.

The first upper wall 41 a is positioned on a side of the rear side wall35B (on the rear side). The second upper wall 41 b is positioned on aside of the front side wall 36B (on the front side). The first upperwall 41 a is inclined (separating from the main body 3A) shifting upwardgradually from the side of the rear side wall 35B (the rear side) towardthe side of the front side wall 36B (the front side).

The second upper wall 41 b is inclined (separating from the main body3A) shifting upward gradually from the side of the front side wall 36B(the front side) toward the side of the rear side wall 35B (the rearside). An upper end (a front end) of the inclining of the first upperwall 41 a is connected to an upper end (a rear end) of the inclining ofthe second upper wall 41 b. A connecting portion between the first upperwall 41 a and the second upper wall 41 b is positioned on the highestportion of the lid 3B. The connecting portion is positioned to be closerto the side of the front side wall 36A (the front side) than to a centerposition between the front side wall 36B and the rear side wall 35B.

In other words, the connecting portion is positioned to be closer to thefront side than to a center of the chassis 3 in the front to reardirection C. In addition, an inner angle of the connecting portion (anangle on a side of the main body 3A) is set to be an obtuse angle (forexample, a range from 120 degrees to 150 degrees).

A lower end (a rear end) of the inclining of the first upper wall 41 ais connected to an upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on a side ofthe rear side wall 35B (on the rear side). A rear side of a left end ofthe first upper wall 41 a is connected to a rear side of the upper endof the side wall 40 positioned on the left side (on a side of the leftside wall 34B). A front side of the left end of the first upper wall 41a is connected to a front side of the upper end of the side wall 40positioned on the left side (on the side of the left side wall 34B) by afirst inclining wall 43. A right end of the first upper wall 41 a isconnected to an upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on the rightside (on a side of the right side wall 32B) by a second inclining wall44.

A lower end (a rear end) of the inclining of the second upper wall 41 bis connected to an upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on a frontside (on a side of the front side wall 36B). A front side of a left endof the second upper wall 41 b is connected to a front side of the upperend of the side wall 40 positioned on the left side (on a side of theleft side wall 34B). A rear side of the left end of the second upperwall 41 b is connected to a rear side of the upper end of the side wall40 positioned on the left side (on the side of the left side wall 34B)by the first inclining wall 43. A right end of the second upper wall 41b is connected to an upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on theright side (on a side of the right side wall 32B) by a second incliningwall 44.

The first inclining wall 43 is extended inclining rightward (diagonallyright-upward) from the front side of the upper end of the side wall 40positioned on the left side (the side of the left side wall 34B). Thefirst inclining wall 43 is formed to have a substantially-rectangularshape. A lower side of the first inclining wall 43 having therectangular shape is connected to the front side of the upper end of theside wall 40 positioned on the left side (on the side of the left sidewall 34B). One of two upper sides of the first inclining wall 43 isconnected to a left end of the first upper wall 41 a. The other one oftwo upper sides of the first inclining wall 43 is connected to a leftend of the second upper wall 41 b.

The second inclining wall 44 is extended inclining leftward (diagonallyleft-upward) from the upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on theright side (the side of the right side wall 32B). The second incliningwall 44 is formed to have a substantially-rectangular shape. A lowerside of the second inclining wall 44 having the rectangular shape isconnected to the upper end of the side wall 40 positioned on the rightside (on the side of the right side wall 32B). One of two upper sides ofthe second inclining wall 44 is connected to a right end of the firstupper wall 41 a. The other one of two upper sides of the secondinclining wall 44 is connected to a right end of the second upper wall41 b.

An outer surface (an upper surface) of the upper wall 41 (the firstupper wall 41 a and the second upper wall 41 b) can be provided withheat-radiation fins (not shown in the drawings). The heat-radiation finscan be arranged in parallel on a substantially-whole surface of theouter surface of the upper wall 41 with intervals in the front to reardirection C and in the right to left direction F. The provision of theheat-radiation fins expands a heat-radiation area (an surface area) ofthe chassis 2, and thereby suppressing the heat rising of the chassis 2.

The flange portion 42 is disposed on a lower end portion of the sidewall 40. The flange portion 42 is disposed extending outward (extendingrightward from the right side wall 32B, leftward from the left side wall34B, backward from the rear side wall 35B, and forward from the frontside wall 36B) from the lower end portion of the side wall 40. Inparticular, the flange portion 42 is disposed extending outward fromeach of the lower end portions of the four side walls (the front sidewall 36B, the rear side wall 35B, the left side wall 34B, and the rightside wall 32B).

A plurality of through holes 42 a and 42 b are formed on the flangeportion 42. The flange portion 42 is fixed to the flange portion 39 ofthe main body 3A by a fastening tool (a bolt and a nut). In particular,the through hole 42 a is overlapped with the through hole 39 a, and thebolt is inserted into the through hole 42 a and the through hole 39 a.The nut is screwed with the bolt, and thereby the flange portion 42 ofthe lid 3B is fixed to the flange portion 39 of the main body 3A.

In this manner, the lid 3B is detachably fixed to the main body 3A. Thethrough hole 42 b is used in mounting the power source apparatus 1 onthe working machine 100 described later.

An inner surface of the upper wall 41 of the lid 3B constitutes thefirst wall surface 31 of the chassis 3. An inner surface of the rightside wall 32A of the main body 3A and an inner surface of the right sidewall 32B of the lid 3B constitute the second wall surface 32 of thechassis 3. An inner surface of the bottom wall 38 of the main body 3Aconstitutes the third wall surface 33 of the chassis 3.

An inner surface of the left side wall 34A of the main body 3A and aninner surface of the left side wall 34B of the lid 3B constitute thefourth wall surface 34 of the chassis 3. An inner surface of the rearside wall 35A of the main body 3A and an inner surface of the rear sidewall 35B of the lid 3B constitute the fifth wall surface 35 of thechassis 3. An inner surface of the front side wall 36A of the main body3A and an inner surface of the front side wall 36B of the lid 3Bconstitute the sixth wall surface 36 of the chassis 3.

Meanwhile, the first wall surface 31, the second wall surface 32, andthe fourth wall surface 34 to the sixth wall surface 36 constituting theinner wall surface of the chassis 3 are not illustrated in FIG. 1.However, in order to help understanding the shape of the chassis 3, thereference numerals 31 to 36 are added to the outer wall surfacesrespectively corresponding to the second wall surface 32, and the fourthwall surface 34 to the sixth wall surface 36 in FIG. 1.

<Housing>

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and the like, the housing 4 constitutes ahousing chamber 13 that is configured to house the batteries 2. In thepresent embodiment, the housing 4 constitutes the housing chamber 13that is configured to house and arrange the plurality of battery modules7 in parallel. As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the housing 4 isconstituted of a cover 14 and a bracket 15.

The cover 14 is arranged on a side of the first wall surface 31 of thebattery module 7 (the upper side). In the present embodiment, the cover14 is arranged above the upper surfaces of the plurality of batterymodules 7 (the module assembly 20) over the entire area of the uppersurfaces (in order to cover the entire area). The cover 14 isconstituted of a plate having a substantially-rectangular shape in a topview, and has concave portions being concave in the upper to lowerdirection and convex portions being convex in the upper to lowerdirection.

In particular, the cover 14 has an outer convex portion 14 a (a firstconvex portion 14 a), an inner convex portion 14 b (a second convexportion 14 b), and a concave portion 14 c as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6.The outer convex portion 14 a is disposed on one side (the front side)of the battery modules 7 in the second parallel direction (the front- torear direction C), and another outer convex portion 14 a is disposed onthe other side (the rear side). The outer convex portion 14 a ispositioned above the flange portion 39 of the main body 3A of thechassis 3. The inner convex portion 14 b is disposed on an intermediateposition between two outer convex portions 14 a and separates from theouter convex portion 14 a. The inner convex portion 14 b is positionedabove the battery modules 7 on a center of the batter modules 7 in thesecond parallel direction (the front- to rear direction C).

The concave portion 14 c is disposed between the outer convex portion 14a and the inner convex portion 14 b, and connects the outer convexportion 14 a and the inner convex portion 14 b to each other. Theconcave portion 14 c is concave (downward) toward the battery module 7side with respect to the first convex portion 14 a and the second convexportion 14 b. A plurality of opening portions 17 are formed on theconcave portion 14 c. The opening portions 17 are positioned above thebus bar 9 of the battery module 7, and thus the bus bar 9 exposes fromthe opening portions 17 under the state where the battery module 7 ishoused in the housing 4.

A part of the opening portions of the plurality of opening portions 17are enlarged opening portions 17A formed to be larger than the remainingopening portions. The present embodiment employs a plurality of theenlarged opening portions 17A. In particular, two of sixteen openingportions 17 are formed as the enlarged opening portions 17A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the enlarged opening portion 17A opens to face thefirst inter-module path 12A. In this manner, the enlarged openingportion 17A serves as an intake portion (hereinafter referred to as “afirst intake portion 17A”) used for taking the air into the firstinter-module path 12A. The housing 4 is provided with a plurality of theintake portions (the first intake portions 17A) disposed on the upperside of the housing chamber 13. That is, the first intake portion 17A isdisposed on the housing 4 on the side of the first wall surface 31, thehousing 4 constituting the housing chamber 13.

In other words, the first wall surface 31 is opposed to the first intakeportion 17A of the housing 4. In this manner, the air flowing in thehousing 4 on the side of the first wall surface 31 (in an airintroduction path (an air introduction path) 50 described later) in theinner space of the chassis 3 is taken from the first intake portion 17Ainto the housing chamber 13.

The first intake portion 17A is formed to have a rectangular shape, andhas a width in the front to rear direction C larger than a width in theright to left direction F. The width of the first intake portion 17A inthe right to left direction F is smaller than a width of the batterymodule 7 in the right to left direction F. In this manner, the firstintake portion 17A does not face both of the first inter-module path 12Aand the second inter-module path 12B that are arranged in the right toleft direction F (in the first parallel arrangement direction). Thus,the air taken from the first intake portion 17A is prevented fromflowing into the second inter-module path 12B without passing throughthe inter-cell path 11.

In addition, the width of the first intake portion 17A in the right toleft direction F is larger than a width of the first inter-module path12A in the right to left direction F. In this manner, the air taken fromthe first intake portion 17A can be made flow efficiently and certainlyin the first inter-module path 12A.

Among the plurality of opening portions 17, the opening portions 17Bother than the enlarged opening portions (the first intake portions) 17Ado not face the first inter-module path 12A, and thus do not serve asthe intake portions for taking the air into the first inter-module path12A. Thus, the air is taken substantially only from the first intakeportion 17A, and thereby the air is taken from the side of the firstwall surface 31 (the upper side) into the housing chamber 13. That is,the air is not taken from the opening portions 17B other than the firstintake portion 17A into the housing chamber 13 or taken a little intothe housing chamber 13 if the air is taken from the opening portions 17Bother than the first intake portion 17A, and thus the function andeffect of the present invention is not deteriorated.

Meanwhile, the present embodiment employs one first inter-module path12A, and thus the present embodiment employs one first intake portion17A. However, when the embodiment employs a plurality of the firstinter-module paths 12A arranged in the right to left direction F, theembodiment employs a plurality of the first intake portions 17A arrangedin the right to left direction F. In the case of that configuration, theair is taken from the plurality of first intake portions 17A into thehousing chamber 13, the first intake portions 17A being arranged in theright to left direction F.

The concave portion 14 c has a second fixing portion 19 that isconfigured to be fixed to a first fixing portion 18 of a bracket 15. Thebracket 15 will be described below. The second fixing portion 19 formsthrough holes that are provided for insertion of the bolts. The secondfixing portion 19 is disposed on each of corner portions (four corners)between both end portions in the first parallel arrangement directionand both end portions in the second parallel arrangement direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bracket 15 has a bottom plate 15 a, a side plate15 b, and an extending portion 15 c.

The bottom plate 15 a is arranged on one side of the battery modules 7(below the battery modules 7). To be detailed, the bottom plate 15 a isdisposed below the lower surfaces of the plurality of battery modules 7(the module assembly 20), and thereby entirely covers the lowersurfaces. The bottom plate 15 a is a plate on which the battery modules7 are arranged (mounted), and also is a partition plate for separatingthe housing chamber 13 and an intake chamber 70 from each other, theintake chamber 70 being described below. The bottom plate (the partitionplate) 15 a is formed to have a substantially-rectangular shape in a topview, and is arranged orienting one side (a short side) of therectangular shape in the front to rear direction C and orienting theother side (a long side) of the rectangular shape in the right to leftdirection F.

The bottom plate (the partition plate) 15 a is formed to have asubstantially-rectangular shape in a top view, and is formed to have awidth in the right to left direction F larger than a width in the frontto rear direction C. A sending portion 16 is formed on the bottom plate(the partition plate) 15 a, the sending portion 16 being configured tosend the air staying in the housing chamber 13 to the outside of thehousing chamber 13. The sending portion 16 is communicated with thesecond inter-module path 12B. The number of the sending portions 16 isnot limited. However, the sending portions 16 are provided in accordancewith the number of the second inter-module paths 12B in the firstparallel arrangement direction (the right to left direction F). In thepresent embodiment, two sending portions 16 are formed and arranged atan interval in the first parallel arrangement direction (the right toleft direction F) of the battery modules 7.

Two sending portions 16 are opened to respectively face two secondinter-module paths 12B. In this manner, the air in the housing chamber13 is sent out from two sending portions 16 through the secondinter-module paths 12B. For convenience of the explanation, regardingthe two sending portions 16 (that is, two opening portions), the openingportion positioned on the left side (on the side of the fourth wallsurface 34) is referred to as a first sending portion 161 below, and theopening portion positioned on the right side (on the side of the fourthwall surface 34) is referred to as a second sending portion 162 below.

The sending portions 16 (the first sending portion 161 and the secondsending portion 162) each have a substantially-rectangular shape, andare each formed to have a width in the front to rear direction C largerthan a width in the right to left direction F. The width of the sendingportion 16 in the right to left direction F is smaller than the width ofthe battery module 7 in the right to left direction F (in the firstparallel arrangement direction). In this manner, one sending portion 16does not face both of the first inter-module path 12A and the secondinter-module path 12B that are arranged in the right to left direction F(in the first parallel arrangement direction).

Thus, the air taken into the first inter-module path 12A is preventedfrom being sent from the sending portion 16 without passing through theinter-cell path 11. In addition, one sending portion 16 faces theplurality of the second inter-module paths 12B (two second inter-modulepaths 12B in the present embodiment) arranged in the front to reardirection C (in the second parallel arrangement direction). In thismanner, the sending portion 16 (one sending portion 16) is capable ofcollectively sending out the air that is introduced into the pluralityof second inter-module paths 12B.

The side plate 15 b includes a first side plate 151 b and a second sideplate 152 b. The first side plate 151 b stands up from one of edgeportions (a front edge portion) of the bottom plate (the partitionplate) 15 a. The second side plate 152 b stands up from the other one ofthe edge portions (a rear edge portion) of the bottom plate 15 a, theother one of the edge portions being opposed to the one of the edgeportions.

The extending portion 15 c is disposed on a standing end portion (theupper end portion) of the side plate 15 b (the first side plate 151 band the second side plate 152 b), and extends in a direction separatingfrom each other (extends forward and backward). In particular, theextending portion 15 c extends forward from the upper end portion of thefirst side plate 151 b and extends backward from the upper end portionof the second side plate 152 b. The extending portion 15 c is positionedabove the flange portion 39 of the main body 3A of the chassis 3, andhas a fastening portion 21 configured to be fastened to the flangeportion 39.

The fastening portion 21 forms a through hole that is provided forinsertion of the bolt. The fastening portion 21 is fastened to theflange portion 39 of the main body 3A of the chassis 3 by a fasteningtool (a bolt and a nut). In particular, the through hole formed on thefastening portion 21 is overlapped with the through hole 39 b formed onthe flange portion 39 of the main body 3A of the chassis 3, and the bolt24 is inserted into the through hole and the through hole 39 b. Andthen, the nut is screwed with the bolt 24.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, the bracket 15is detachably fixed to the main body 3A of the chassis 3.

The bracket 15 has a first fixing portion that stands up from the bottomplate 15 a. The first fixing portion 18 extends upward from the vicinityof each of four corner portions of the bottom plate 15 a. The firstfixing portion 18 forms a through hole that is provided for insertion ofthe bolt. The first fixing portion 18 and the second fixing portion 19are fastened by a fastening tool (a bolt and a nut) and thereby arefixed to each other.

In particular, the through hole formed on the first fixing portion 18 isoverlapped with the through hole 39 b formed on the second fixingportion 19, the bolt 25 is inserted into the overlapped through holes,then the nut 29 is screwed with the bolt 25, and thereby the firstfixing portion 18 and the second fixing portion 19 are fixed to eachother (refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 10). In this manner, the cover14 is detachably fixed to the bracket 15.

The plurality of batteries 2 (the plurality of battery modules 7) arearranged between the cover 14 and the bottom plate 15 a of the bracket15. The first fixing portion 18 and the second fixing portion 19 arefixed to each other, and thereby the plurality of battery modules 7 (themodule assembly 20) are sandwiched and supported between the cover 14and the bottom plate 15 a of the bracket 15.

The fastening portion 21 of the bracket 15 is fastened to the flangeportion 39 of the main body 3A of the chassis 3 under the state wherethe plurality of batteries 2 (the battery modules 7) are supported inthe housing 4 (the cover 14 and the bracket 15), and thereby theplurality of batteries 2 (the battery module 7) are arranged in theinner space of the chassis 3 together with the housing 4.

That is, the housing 4 is fixed to the chassis 3 under the state wherethe plurality of batteries 2 (the battery modules 7) are preliminarilyhoused in the housing 4 (under the sub-assembly state). Thus, theplurality of batteries 2 (the battery modules 7) are easily assembled tothe chassis 3, and thereby the operability of assembly of the powersource apparatus 1 is improved.

<Blower>

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and the like, the blower 5 isarranged on one side of (that is, below) the batteries 2 (the batterymodules 7). In particular, the blower 5 is arranged between the batterymodules 7 and the third wall surface 33 of the chassis 3. The blower 5has a blowing portion 5 a and an intake portion 5 b. The blowing portion5 a is configured to blow the air in accordance with revolutions of thefan. The intake portion 5 b is configured to take the air toward thefan. The fan of the blower 5 is constituted of a centrifugal fan (asirocco fan) that is configured to be driven to revolve by an electricmotor.

The blowing portion 5 a is arranged on one side of (that is, below) thebattery modules 7, and is oriented (backward) to the second wall surface32. The intake portion 5 b is arranged on one side of (that is, below)the battery modules 7, and is oriented (downward) to the third wallsurface 33. The blower 5 is configured to be driven with use of anelectric power accumulated in the batteries 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the blowing portion 5 a is disposed on a positioncloser to the fifth wall surface 35 (the rear side) than to a centerposition between the fifth wall surface 35 and the sixth wall surface 36(a center position of the chassis 3 in the front to rear direction).Additionally, in the second parallel arrangement direction (the front torear direction) of the plurality of battery modules 7, the blowingportion 5 a is disposed on the position closer to one side (the rearside) separating in the direction from the center of the battery modules7 in the direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, a supporting body 22 is arranged on one side of(that is, below) the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7). The supportingbody 22 is configured to support the blower 5. The blower 5 is supportedin the inner space of the chassis 3 by the supporting body 22. As shownin FIG. 11, the supporting body 22 has a supporting plate 22 a, anextending plate 22 b, and a stay 22 c.

The supporting plate 22 a has a plurality of fixing portions 22 d thatare configured to fix the blower 5. The supporting plate 22 a is formedto have a substantially-rectangular shape in a top view. The fixingportion 22 d is disposed in the vicinity of each of three cornerportions. A plurality of brackets 5 c (three brackets 5 c) are attachedon a circumference of the blower 5. The bracket 5 c of the blower 5 isfixed to the fixing portion 22 d by a fixing tool (a bolt and a nut) 26.In this manner, the blower 5 is fixed and supported below the supportingplate 22 a.

An air introduction tube 5 e is attached to the blowing portion 5 a ofthe blower 5. The air introduction tube 5 e is a tube configured tointroduce the air in a predetermined direction, the air having beenblown from the blowing portion 5 a. The air introduction tube 5 e has alower plate 5 e 1, a front plate 5 e 2, and a rear plate 5 e 3. Thelower plate 5 e 1, the front plate 5 e 2, and the rear plate 5 e 3 areformed to be integrated. An upper plate of the air introduction tube 5 eis constituted of an extending plate 22 b described later.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the air introduction tube 5 e extendstoward the side of the second wall surface 32 under the state where theblower 5 is stored in the inner space of the chassis 3.

As shown in FIG. 11, the extending plate 22 b extends protruding outwardfrom an outer edge of the supporting plate 22 a. The extending plate 22b constitutes the upper plate of the air introduction tube 5 e. That is,the air introduction tube 5 e having a square tube shape is constitutedof the extending plate 22 b, the lower plate 5 e 1, the front plate 5 e2, and the rear plate 5 e 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the extending plate 22b extends toward the side of the second wall surface 32 under the statewhere the blower 5 is stored in the inner space of the chassis 3.

The stay 22 c extends downward from a clearance between the fixingportions 22 d of the supporting plate 22 a, the fixing portions 22 dbeing adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, three stays 22c pass through the outside of the blower 5 and respectively extenddownward from the clearances between three fixing portions 22 d. A lowerend of the stay 22 c is fixed to a bracket 6 d by a fixing tool 28, thebracket 6 d being attached to the heat exchanger 6. In this manner, theheat exchanger 6 is fixed to the supporting body 22 under the statewhere the heat exchanger 6 is arranged below the blower 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, at least a part of the sending portions 16 of thehousing 4 are arranged being shifted in a perpendicular direction (theleft to right direction F) that is perpendicular to an arrangementdirection (the upper to lower direction I) where the blower 5 and thebattery modules 7 are arranged such that the part of the sendingportions 16 are not overlapped with the blower 5 in the arrangementdirection. In particular, at least a part of the blower 5 (or a whole ofthe blower 5) is arranged between the first sending portion 161 and thesecond sending portion 162 in the perpendicular direction (the right toleft direction F).

In this manner, the air sent from the sending portion 16 is suppressedfrom blowing the blower 5, and thus the blower 5 is prevented from beingwarned by the warm air sent from the sending portion 16. Thus, thatconfiguration prevents a temperature of the air blown from the blower 5from being increased, and thereby improving a cooling effect to thebattery modules 7.

<Heat Exchanger>

The heat exchanger 6 is an device configured to cool the air flowing inthe inner space of the chassis 3 in the heat exchanging method, andemploys an evaporator in the present embodiment. The heat exchanger 6has a plurality of tubes and fins for heat radiation. The plurality oftubes are configured to flow a coolant inside the tubes. The fins aredisposed so as to conduct the heat to the tubes. The heat is exchangedbetween the coolant flowing in the tubes of the heat exchanger 6 and theair passing around the tubes and the fins, and thereby the air passingthrough the heat exchanger 6 is cooled. As shown in FIG. 6, an entrance6 a and an exit 6 b of the coolant of the heat exchanger 6 protrudeoutside the chassis 3 from a left lower portion 34 c of the fourth sidewall 34A of the chassis 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 6 is arranged on oneside of (that is, below) the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7). To bedetailed, the heat exchanger 6 is arranged between the battery modules 7and the third wall surface 33 of the chassis 3. To be detailed more, theheat exchanger 6 is arranged between the third wall surface 33 and theblower 5. The heat exchanger 6 has an intake portion 6 c on the side ofthe third wall surface 33, the intake portion 6 c being configured totake the air having passed through the battery modules 7.

When the fans are driven by the blower 5, the air is taken from theintake portion 6 c of the heat exchanger 6, and passes through the heatexchanger 6, thereby being cooled. The cooled air is sent to the sideopposed to the intake portion 6 c (to the side of the blower 5), and istaken (sucked) into the intake portion 5 b of the blower 5. In thismanner, the blower 5 is capable of blowing the air from the blowingportion 5 a, the air of low temperature having been cooled by the heatexchanger 6.

<Air Introduction Path>

The air introduction path 50 is a path configured to introduce the airinto a space constituted between the plurality of batteries 2. In thepresent embodiment, the air introduction path 50 is a path configured tointroduce he air into a space (the inter-module path) constitutedbetween the plurality of battery modules 7.

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the air introduction path 50 is formedbetween the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7) and the first wallsurface 31 of the chassis 3, the air introduction path 50 beingconfigured to introduce the air into the battery module 7. In thepresent embodiment, the air introduction path 50 is constituted of thefirst wall surface 31 and the upper surfaces 7 a of the battery modules7 (in more particular, the upper surfaces of the covers), the uppersurfaces 7 a being opposed to the first wall surface 31.

That is, the wall surface (the first wall surface 31) of the chassis 3constitutes a part of the air introduction path 50. In other words, theair introduction path 50 is formed without including a duct separatedfrom the chassis 3. The air introduction path 50 is disposed above theupper surfaces of the plurality of battery modules 7 (the moduleassembly 20) over the entire area of the upper surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air introduction path 50 has a first area 51 anda second area 52. The first area 51 and the second area 52 are disposedto be arranged in the second parallel arrangement direction (thefront-to rear direction) of the battery modules 7. The first area 51 ispositioned closer to the side of the vertical wall surface (the firstvertical wall surface) 36 than a center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 aof the blower 5 (that is, positioned on the side of the sixth wallsurface 36 (on the front side)).

The second area 52 is positioned closer to the side of the second wallsurface 35 than the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a, the secondwall surface 35 being opposed to the first vertical wall surface 36(that is, positioned on the side of the fifth wall surface 35 (on therear side)). In FIG. 3, a boundary line between the first area 51 andthe second area 52 is indicated by a chain line L.

The inner space of the chassis 3 includes the first area 51 and thesecond area 52 between the first lateral wall surface (the first wallsurface) 31 and the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7), the first area51 being positioned closer to the side of the vertical wall surface (thefirst vertical wall surface) 36 than the center 5 f of the blowingportion 5 a (that is, positioned on the side of the sixth wall surface36), the second area 52 being positioned closer to the side opposed tothe vertical wall surface (the first vertical wall surface) 36 than thecenter 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a (that is, positioned on the sideof the fifth wall surface 35).

As shown in FIG. 3, the air introduction path 50 has an expanded portion(referred to as a first expanded portion 53) expanding a separationdistance d between the first wall surface 31 and the batteries 2 (thebattery modules 7) from the second area 52 toward the first area 51. Inaddition, the air introduction path 50 has an expanded portion (referredto as a second expanded portion 54) expanding the separation distance dfrom the first area 51 toward the second area 52.

The first expanded portion 53 is disposed above and over the second area52 and a part of (a rear portion of) the first area 51. The secondexpanded portion 54 is disposed above a part of (a front portion of) thefirst area 51. That is, the first area 51 has the second expandedportion 54 above the front portion of the first area 51, and has thefirst expanded portion 53 above the rear portion of the first area 51.

The first expanded portion 53 and the second expanded portion 54 areconnected at a portion 55 at which the separation distance d is expandedto the maximum. In this manner, a shape of the air introduction path 50in the front to rear direction C is formed to have asubstantially-rectangular shape that has the separation distance d ismaximized at an intermediate portion (the portion 55) in the front torear direction C. The portion 55 at which the separation distance d ismaximized is positioned on the first area 51. The blowing portion 5 a ofthe blower 5 is disposed on a position closer to the fifth wall surface35 (the rear side) than to the portion 55 at which the separationdistance d between the first wall surface 31 and the battery modules 7is maximized.

In this manner, when the air blown from the blowing portion 5 a flowsupward and is introduced into the air introduction path 50 by a flowpath 60 described below, the air introduced in the air introduction path50 is introduced by the first expanded portion 53 toward a direction ofexpanding the separation distance d between the batteries 2 (the batterymodules 7) and the first wall surface 31.

In this manner, the air is introduced by the first expanded portion 53to the side of the sixth wall surface 36 opposed to the fifth wallsurface 35, the air being blown from the blowing portion 5 a arranged onthe side of the fifth wall surface 35, and thereby the flow of the airis homogenized from the blowing portion 5 a to the air introduction path50. In this manner, the batteries 2 are cooled preferably in a goodbalance.

On the side backward from the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a (onthe side of the sixth wall surface 36), the first expanded portion 53gradually increases the separation distance d in accordance with theseparation from the center 5 f. In addition, on the side forward fromthe center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a (on the side of the fifth wallsurface 35), the first expanded portion 53 gradually decreases theseparation distance d in accordance with the separation from the center5 f.

Meanwhile, the shape of the air introduction path 50 in the front torear direction C is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 3, and forexample may be changed to the shapes shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. And,FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show the cross-sectional views illustrating aposition identical to that of FIG. 3. Configurations corresponding tothe configurations shown in FIG. 3 are given the same referencenumerals.

As in the embodiment described above (refer to FIG. 3), in a modifiedexample (a first modified example) shown in FIG. 12 and in a modifiedexample (a second modified example) shown in FIG. 13, the blowingportion 5 a of the blower 5 is arranged closer to the side of the fifthwall surface 35 (the rear side) than the position at which theseparation distance d between the first wall surface 31 and the batterymodules 7 is maximized.

In addition, the air introduction path 50 has the expanded portionexpanding the separation distance d between the first wall surface 31and the batteries 2 from the second area 52 toward the first area 51.However, the air introduction path 50 in the first modified example andin the second modified example has the first expanded portion 53 butdoes not have the second expanded portion 54.

In particular, in the first modified example shown in FIG. 12, the firstexpanded portion 53 is disposed over the entire area of the airintroduction path 50 (the entire area of the first area 51 and theentire area of the second area 52). In other words, the air introductionpath 50 gradually expands the air introduction path 50 from a rear endportion of the air introduction path 50 toward the front end portion.

In the second modified example shown in FIG. 13, the first expandedportion 53 is disposed from the rear end portion of the air introductionpath 50 (the rear end portion of the second area 52) to an intermediateportion of the first area 51 in the front to rear direction C. Aconstant portion 56 is disposed on the remaining portion of the firstarea 51 (the portion other than the first expanded portion 53), theconstant portion 56 having the separation distance d constant in thefront to rear direction C.

<Flow Path>

As shown in FIG. 2, the flow path 60 is formed between the batteries 2(the battery modules 7) and the second wall surface 32 of the chassis 3,the flow path 60 being configured to introduce, to the air introductionpath 50, the air blown from the blowing portion 5 a of the blower 5. Inthe present embodiment, the flow path 60 extends outward (rightward)from the housing chamber 13 in the upper to lower direction.

In the present embodiment, the flow path 60 is constituted of the secondwall surface 32 and outer surfaces (right surfaces) 7 b of the batterymodules 7, the outer surfaces (right surfaces) 7 b being opposed to thesecond wall surface 32. That is, a wall surface (the second wall surface32) of the chassis 3 constitutes a part of the flow path 60. In otherwords, the flow path 60 is formed without including a duct separatedfrom the chassis 3. The flow path 60 is disposed to the right of theplurality of battery modules 7 over the entire area of the rightsurfaces of the plurality of battery modules 7 (the module assembly 20).

A cross-sectional area (a cross-sectional area perpendicular to theright to left direction) of at least a part of the air introduction path50 is larger than a cross-sectional area (a cross-sectional areaperpendicular to the upper to lower direction) of the flow path 60. Inthis manner, the air in the air introduction path 50 flows into thehousing chamber 13 due to a pressure difference between a pressure inthe air introduction path 50 and a pressure in the housing chamber 13.Thus, the air in the air introduction path 50 is introduced homogenouslyinto the spaces formed between the plurality of batteries 2, and therebythe batteries 2 are cooled efficiently.

In particular, in the case where the batteries 2 are the battery modules7 (that is, in the present embodiment), the air in the air introductionpath 50 is introduced homogenously into the spaces formed between theplurality of battery modules 7 (into the inter-module paths 12). In thecase where the batteries 2 are the battery cells 8, the air in the airintroduction path 50 is introduced homogenously into the spaces formedbetween the plurality of battery cells 8 (into the inter-cell paths 11).

An entrance end portion 50 a that is an end portion disposed on anentrance side of the air introduction path 50 is not directly coupled toan exit end portion 60 a that is an end portion disposed on an exit sideof the flow path 60, and is coupled to the exit end portion 60 a by asecond direction conversion part 30 b described later. A cross-sectionalarea of a path of the entrance end portion 50 a is larger than across-sectional area of a path of the exit end portion 60 a.

In this manner, regarding the air flowing from the exit end portion 60 aof the flow path 60 into the entrance end portion 50 a of the airintroduction path 50, a flow speed of the air is reduced in the entranceend portion 50 a, and then the flow speed of the air flowing in the airintroduction path 50 is reduced. Thus, the volumes of the air flowinginto the spaces formed between the plurality of batteries 2 aresuppressed from being varied. In this manner, the battery modules 7 andthe battery cells 8 are cooled efficiently.

Meanwhile, the cross-sectional area of path of the entrance end portion50 a is an area of a surface (an opening) obtained by cutting off theair introduction path 50 at a position that is perpendicular to theupper surfaces of the battery modules 7 (the surfaces on the side of thefirst wall surface 31) and passes through a boundary portion between thefirst wall surface 31 and the inner surface of the second inclining wall44. In addition, the cross-sectional area of path of the exit endportion 60 a is an area of a surface (an opening) obtained by cuttingoff the flow path 60 at a position that is perpendicular to the rightsurfaces of the battery modules 7 (the surfaces on the side of thesecond wall surface 32) and passes through the second wall surfaces 32and the upper end portions of the right surfaces.

Moreover, the spaces formed between the plurality of batteries 2 arespaces (the inter-module paths 12) formed between the battery modules 7in the case where the batteries 2 are the battery modules 7 (in thepresent embodiment). Meanwhile, the spaces formed between the pluralityof batteries 2 are spaces (the inter-cell paths 11) formed between thebattery cells 8 in the case where the batteries 2 are the battery cells8.

A cross-sectional area of path of the air introduction path 50 is largerthan a cross-sectional area of path of the exit end portion 60 a of theflow path 60 in a section (an introducing section) from the entrance endportion 50 a of the air introduction path 50 to a portion facing thefirst intake portion 17A. In this manner, a flow speed of the air in theintroducing section 50 b is reduced.

Thus, in the case where a plurality of the first intake portions 17A aredisposed being arranged in the front to rear direction F, the volumes ofthe air flowing into the plurality of first intake portions 17A facingthe introducing section 50 b are suppressed from being varied. As theresult, the volumes of the air flowing into the spaces (the inter-modulepaths 12) formed between the plurality of battery modules 7 aresuppressed from being varied.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the cross-sectional area of aportion having the minimum cross-sectional area of path of the airintroduction path 50 (the minimum cross-sectional area of path) may beconstituted to be larger than the cross-sectional area of a portionhaving the maximum cross-sectional area of path of the flow path 60 (themaximum cross-sectional area of path). Also in the configuration, theflow speed of the air in the air introduction path 50 is reduced, andthe volumes of the air flowing into the spaces formed between theplurality of batteries 2 are suppressed from being varied.

<Housing Chamber>

The housing chamber 13 is a chamber configured to house the batteries 2(the battery modules 7). The air introduced into the air introductionpath 50 is taken into the housing chamber 13. The housing chamber 13 hasan intake portion configured to take the air introduced into the airintroduction path 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the intake includes the firstintake portion 17A and a second intake portion 23.

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the first intake portion 17A isdisposed on the cover 14 of the housing 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the firstintake portion 17A is disposed on the side of the air introduction path50 (the side of the first wall surface 31), and faces the firstinter-module path 12A. The air introduced to the air introduction path50 is taken from the first intake portion 17A into the firstinter-module path 12A.

The first intake portion 17A is separated from the second inter-modulepath 12B by at least one of the battery modules 7 (one battery module 7in the present embodiment) such that the airs having passed through theinter-cell paths 11 of the plurality of battery modules 7 arranged nextto the second inter-module path 12B and adjacent each other areconfluent and introduced.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 10, the second intake portion 23 isarranged between the first side plate 151 b of the housing 4 and thesecond side plate 152 b. That is, the second intake portion 23 isconstituted of the first side plate 151 b and the second side plate 152b. The second intake portion 23 is arranged on an end portion of theplurality of the battery modules 7 in the parallel arrangement direction(in the first parallel arrangement direction).

In particular, the second intake portion 23 is arranged on one end side(the right side) of the plurality of the battery modules 7 in the firstparallel arrangement direction. Another second intake portion 23 isarranged on the other end side (the left side) of the plurality of thebattery modules 7 in the first parallel arrangement direction. Thesecond intake portion 23 arranged on one end side (the right side) inthe first parallel arrangement direction may be referred to as “a secondintake portion 23A” below, and the other second intake portion 23arranged on the other end side (the left side) in the first parallelarrangement direction may be referred to as “a second intake portion23B” below.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the second intake portion 23A is arrangedon the side of the second wall surface 32 (the right side) of thechassis 2, and faces the flow path 60. The second intake portion 23B isarranged on the side of the fourth wall surface 34 (the left side) ofthe chassis 2, and faces an intermediate path 75 described below. Thesecond intake portions 23A and 23B face the inter-cell path 11 of thebattery module 7. In this manner, the airs introduced to the flow path60 and the intermediate path 75 are taken from the second intakeportions 23A and 23B into the inter-cell path 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6, and FIG. 10, the housing chamber 13 has thesending portions 16 (the first sending portion 161 and the secondsending portion 162) configured to send the air taken from the intakeportions (the first intake portion 17A and the second intake portion 23)into the housing chamber 13.

The sending portions 16 are arranged on a lower side of the housingchamber 13 (on the side of the blower 5). The sending portions 16 facethe second inter-module path 12B. The sending portions 16 is separatedfrom the first inter-module path 12A by at least one of the batterymodules 7 (one battery module 7 in the present embodiment) such that theairs flow in the inter-cell paths 11 of the plurality of battery modules7 arranged next to the first inter-module path 12A and adjacent eachother.

The first intake portion 17A and the sending portions 16 (the firstsending portion 161 and the second sending portion 162) are arranged onthe positions not corresponding to the plurality of the battery modules7 in the first parallel arrangement direction (the left to rightdirection F). The first inter-module path 12A faces the first intakeportion 17A, but does not face both of the first sending portion 161 andthe second sending portion 162. The second inter-module path 12B faceseither one of the first sending portion 161 and the second sendingportion 162, but does not face the first intake portion 17A.

That is, the first intake portion 17A is not communicated directly (iscommunicated by the inter-cell path 11) with the sending portion 16. Inthis manner, the air taken from the first intake portion 17A into thehousing chamber 13 is prevented from being sent from the sendingportions 16 without passing through the inter-cell paths 11.

Then, referring to FIG. 2, the flow of the air passing through thehousing chamber 13 will be explained.

The air taken from the first intake portion 17A into the housing chamber13 flows downward (toward the side of the blower 5) passing through thefirst inter-module path 12A. The air is not sent from the sendingportion 16 without passing through the inter-cell path 11 because thefirst inter-module path 12A does not face the sending portion 16.

The air flowing into the first inter-module path 12A is divided to andflown into each of the inter-cell paths 11 of the battery modules 7arranged next to the first inter-module path 12A and adjacent eachother. When passing through the inter-cell path 11, the air flowing fromthe first inter-module path 12A into the inter-cell path 11 removes theheat of the battery cells 8 and thereby cools the battery cells 8. Andthus, the air is warmed and flows into the second inter-module path 12B.

The air taken from the second intake portion 23 into the housing chamber13 flows into the inter-cell path 11. When passing through theinter-cell path 11, the air flowing from the second intake portion 23into the inter-cell path 11 removes the heat of the battery cells 8 andthereby cools the battery cells 8. And thus, the air is warmed and flowsinto the second inter-module path 12B.

In the second inter-module path 12B, the air taken from the first intakeportion 17A and flowing into the second inter-module path 12B isconfluent with the air taken from the second intake portion 23 andflowing into the second inter-module path 12B. The confluent air flowsdownward in the second inter-module path 12B (toward the side of theblower 5), and is sent from the sending portion 16 facing the secondinter-module path 12B.

In particular, the air having passed through the second inter-modulepath 12B arranged to the left is sent from the first sending portion161, and the air having passed through the second inter-module path 12Barranged to the right is sent from the second sending portion 162. Thatis, both of the airs are sent from the sending portion 16 to the outsideof the housing chamber 13. One of the airs is taken from the firstintake portion 17A and has passed through the first inter-module path12A, the inter-cell path 11, and the second inter-module path 12B inturn. The other one of the airs is taken from the second intake portion23 and has passed through the inter-cell path 11 and the secondinter-module path 12B in turn.

<Intake Chamber>

As shown in FIG. 2, the intake chamber 70 is formed between the thirdwall surface 33 and the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7). The intakechamber 70 is a chamber used by the intake portion 5 b of the blower 5,the intake portion 5 b being configured to take the air having passedthrough the housing chamber 13 and having cooled the batteries 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the intake chamber 70 is constituted ofthe third wall surface 33, the lower surface 7 c of the battery module 7opposed to the third wall surface 33 (in more particular, a lowersurface of the bottom plate (the partition plate) 15 a of the bracket15), the fourth wall surface 34, the fifth wall surface 35, the sixthwall surface 36, and a separating plate 27 described below, in thepresent embodiment.

In particular, the bottom lower portion 33 d of the third wall surface33 constitutes the lower surface of the intake chamber 70. The lowersurface 7 c of the battery module 7 constitutes an upper surface of theintake chamber 70. The left intermediate portion 34 b and the left lowerportion 34 c of the fourth wall surface 34 constitute a left surface ofthe intake chamber 70. The rear intermediate portion 35 b and the rearlower portion 35 c of the fifth wall surface 35 constitute a rearsurface of the intake chamber 70.

The front intermediate portion 36 b and the front lower portion 36 c ofthe sixth wall surface 36 constitute a front surface of the intakechamber 70. The separating plate 27 constitutes a right surface of theintake chamber 70. That is, the wall surfaces (the third wall surface33, the fourth wall surface 34, the fifth wall surface 35, and the sixthwall surface 36) of the chassis 3 constitute a part of the intakechamber 70.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intake portion 5 b of the blower 5 is arrangedin the intake chamber 70. The intake chamber 70 is communicated with thehousing chamber 13 by the sending portion 16. In this manner, the airsent from the sending portion 16 of the housing chamber 13 enters theintake chamber 70, and is taken from the intake portion 5 b into theblower 5 in the intake chamber 70.

The intake chamber 70 has a housing area 70 a and an area 70 b otherthan the housing area 70 a. The housing area 70 a is configured to housethe blower 5 and the heat exchanger 6. The housing area 70 a is an areaarranged below the bottom upper portion 33 a of the third wall surface33 (arranged on the side of the third wall surface 33). A first sealingmember 61 described below is arranged in the housing area 70 a. The area70 b other than the housing area 70 a is an area arranged above thebottom upper portion 33 a of the third wall surface 33 (arranged on theside of the first wall surface 31), and is positioned immediately belowthe bottom plate (the partition plate) 15 a of the bracket 15.

The area 70 b of the intake chamber 70 is constituted of the separationbetween the partition plate 15 a of the housing 4 and the bottom upperportion 33 a of the third wall surface 33 of the chassis 3. In otherwords, the housing 4 separates the partition plate 15 a from the thirdwall surface 33, and thereby increases a volume of the area 70 a otherthan the housing area 70 a.

In this manner, the volume of the intake chamber 70 is increased intotal, and thereby the pressure in the intake chamber 70 is decreased,As the result, the intake chamber 70 is under the pressure lower thanthe pressure in the housing chamber 13.

The housing area 70 a of the intake chamber 70 includes a receiving path70 c. The receiving path 70 c is formed between the third wall surface33 and the heat exchanger 6. To be detailed, the receiving path 70 c isformed between the bottom lower portion 33 d of the third wall surface33 and the heat exchanger 6, and is positioned on the lowest portion inthe inner space of the chassis 3.

The receiving path 70 c receives the air sent from the sending portion16 of the housing chamber 13 and not having been cooled by the heatexchanger 6. The air received by the receiving path 70 c flows towardthe intake portion 5 b of the blower 5, and passes through the heatexchanger 6, thereby being cooled. The air cooled by the heat exchanger6 is taken into the intake portion 5 b and is blown from the blowingportion 5 a.

<Blowing Path>

A blowing path 80 is a path configured to receive the air blown from theblowing portion 5 a of the blower 5, and faces the blowing portion 5 a.As shown in FIG. 5, the blowing path 80 is disposed on a position closeto one side (the rear side) of the plurality of battery modules 7 in thesecond parallel arrangement direction (in the front to rear direction).In other words, the blowing path 80 is disposed on a position separatingfrom a center of the plurality of batteries 7 toward the one side (therear side) in the second parallel arrangement direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the blowing path 80 isarranged adjacent to the intake chamber 70 between the intake chamber 70and the second wall surface 32. The intake chamber 70 is separated fromthe intake path 80 by the separating plate 27.

The blowing path 80 is constituted of the second wall surface 32, thethird wall surface 33, the lower surface 7 c of the battery module 7opposed to the third wall surface 33 (in more particular, a lowersurface of the bottom plate (the partition plate) 15 a of the bracket15), the fifth wall surface 35, the sixth wall surface 36, and theseparating plate 27. In particular, the right intermediate portion 32 band the right lower portion 32 c of the second wall surface 32constitute a right surface of the blowing path 80.

The bottom lower portion 33 d of the third wall surface 33 constitutes alower surface of the intake chamber 70. The lower surface 7 c of thebattery module 7 constitutes an upper, surface of the blowing path 80.The rear intermediate portion 35 b of the fifth wall surface 35constitutes a rear surface of the blowing path 80. The frontintermediate portion 36 b of the sixth wall surface 36 constitutes afront surface of the blowing path 80. The separating plate 27constitutes a left surface of the blowing path 80.

That is, the wall surfaces (the second wall surface 32, the third wallsurface 33, the fifth wall surface 35, and the sixth wall surface 6) ofthe chassis 3 constitute a part of the blowing path 80. In other words,the blowing path 80 is formed without including a duct separated fromthe chassis 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the blowing path 80 is communicatedwith the flow path 60. To be detailed, the blowing path 80 and the flowpath 60 constitutes a communication path 65 that passes outside thehousing chamber 13 and couples the blowing portion 5 a and the airintroduction path 50 to each other. In other words, the communicationpath 65 couples the blowing portion 5 a and the air introduction path 50to each other without passing through the housing chamber 13.

It is preferred that the cross-sectional area (a path cross-sectionalarea) of the flow path 60 (an cross-sectional area perpendicular in theupper to lower direction) is larger than the cross-sectional area (apath cross-sectional area) of the blowing path 80 (an cross-sectionalarea perpendicular in the right to left direction). A flow speed of theair introduced from the blowing path 80 into the flow path 60 is reducedbecause the path cross-sectional area of the flow path 60 is larger thanthe path cross-sectional area of the blowing path 80.

In this manner, regarding the air introduced from the blowing path 80 tothe flow path 60, the heat changing between the air and the second wallsurface 32 is suppressed in the flow path 60 through which the airpasses.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the separating plate 27 is arrangedbetween a first side wall 45 and a second side wall 46, the separatingplate 27 being configured to separate the blowing path 80 from theintake chamber 70. The first side wall 45 is constituted of the rearintermediate portion 35 b and the rear lower portion 35 c of the fifthwall surface 35. The second side wall 46 is constituted of the frontintermediate portion 36 b and the front lower portion 36 c of the sixthwall surface 36.

The first side wall 45 constitutes a part of the intake chamber 70 and apart of the blowing path 80. The second side wall 46 constitutes a partof the blowing path 80 and a part of the intake chamber 70 opposed tothe first side wall 45. The first side wall 45 and the second side wall46 are connected to the third wall surface 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the separating plate 27has a first plate portion 27 a and a second plate portion 27 b. Thefirst plate portion 27 a is arranged opposed to the lower surface of thepartition plate 15 a (a surface arranged on the side of the third wallsurface 33). The second plate portion 27 b is extended from the firstplate portion 27 a in a direction separating from the partition plate 15a (on the side of the third wall surface 33). The second plate portion27 b is arranged over from the first side wall 45 to the second sidewall 46. An opening portion is formed on the second plate portion 27 b.

The opening portion 27 c has a rectangular shape, and an upper edge ofthe opening portion 27 c is positioned on an upper end of the secondplate portion 27 b (on a boundary portion between the first plateportion 27 a and the second plate portion 27 b). The air introductiontube 5 e is connected to a front side of the opening portion 27 c (onthe side of the fourth wall surface 34), the air introduction tube 5 ebeing attached to the blowing portion 5 a of the blower 5. In thismanner, the air blown from the blowing portion 5 a is certainlyintroduced to the opening portion 27 c by the air introduction tube 5 e,then passes through the opening portion 27 c, and thus is introduced tothe blowing path 80.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first sealing member 61 seals between the firstplate portion 27 a and the partition plate 15 a. Another seal member(not shown in the drawings) seals between the lower end of the secondplate portion 27 b and the second bottom intermediate portion 33 c ofthe third wall surface 33. Further another seal member (not shown in thedrawings) seals between the rear end of the second plate portion 27 band the first side wall 45. Further another seal member (not shown inthe drawings) seals between the front end of the second plate portion 27b and the second side wall 46.

In this manner, the blowing path 80 is air-tightly separated from theintake chamber 70 by the separating plate 27 at the portion except forthe opening portion 27 c. Thus, the air passing through the openingportion 27 c from the blowing portion 5 a and being blown to the blowingpath 80 is prevented from directly returning to the intake chamber 70(prevented from returning without passing through the housing chamber13).

In addition, the separating plate 27 is disposed closer to the secondwall surface 32 than to the sending portion 16. In this manner, the airin the housing chamber 13 is not prevented by the separating plate 27from being sent from the sending portion 16. Furthermore, the air sentfrom the sending portion 16 is prevented from being directly introducedto the blowing path 80 (prevented from being introduced to the blowingpath 80 without passing through the intake chamber 70).

<Blow Path>

The air introduction path 50, the flow path 60, and the blowing path 80described above constitute a blow path 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the blowpath 30 is a path in which the air blown from the blowing portion 5 aflows to be introduced to the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7).

The blow path 30 is formed between the battery modules 7 and the wallsurfaces of the chassis 3 (the first wall surface 31, the second wallsurface 32, the third wall surface 33, the fifth wall surface 35, andthe sixth wall surface 36). In the present embodiment, the blow path 30is constituted of the wall surfaces of the chassis 3 (the first wallsurface 31, the second wall surface 32, the third wall surface 33, thefifth wall surface 35, and the sixth wall surface 36) and an outersurface of the battery module 7, the outer surface being opposed to thewall surfaces, (in particular, an outer surface of the housing 4).

That is, the wall surfaces of the chassis 3 (the first wall surface 31,the second wall surface 32, the third wall surface 33, the fifth wallsurface 35, and the sixth wall surface 36) constitute a part of the blowpath 30. In other words, the blow path 30 is formed without including aduct separated from the chassis 3.

The wall surface (an inner wall surface) constituting the blow path 30has a direction changing portion configured to change a direction of theblow path 30. In the present embodiment, the direction changing portionincludes a first direction changing portion 30 a, a second changingportion 30 b, and a third changing portion 30 c. The first directionchanging portion 30 a is constituted of a corner portion connecting thesecond wall surface 32 and the third wall surface 33 to each other.

The second direction changing portion 30 b is constituted of an innersurface of the second inclining wall 44 connecting the second wallsurface 32 and the first wall surface 31 to each other. The thirddirection changing portion 30 c is constituted of an inner surface ofthe first inclining wall 43 and a corner portion connecting the firstwall surface 31 and the fourth wall surface 34 to each other. The airflowing in the blow path 30 hits the wall surface (the inner wallsurface) in the direction changing portions mentioned above (the firstdirection changing portion 30 a, the second direction changing portion30 b, the third direction changing portion 30 c), and thereby changes adirection of flowing.

A heat-insulating portion 47 is disposed at least on a portion includingthe direction changing portions (the first direction changing portion 30a, the second direction changing portion 30 b, and the third directionchanging portion 30 c), the portion being included in the wall surface(the inner wall surface) constituting the blow path 30 of the chassis 3.In the present embodiment, the heat-insulating portion 47 is disposedover the second wall surface 32, the first direction changing portion 30a, and the second bottom intermediate portion 33 c of the third wallsurface 33.

That is, in the present embodiment, the heat-insulating portion 47 isdisposed on, of the wall surface of the chassis 3, a wall surface (thesecond wall surface 32) of a portion constituting the flow path 60, awall surface (the third wall surface 33 and the second bottomintermediate portion 33 c) of a portion constituting the blowing path80, and a wall surface (the first direction changing portion 30 a) of aportion connecting the blowing path 80 and the flow path 60 to eachother.

The heat( )insulating portion 47 is constituted by applying aheat-insulating member (for example, the foamed synthetic resin and thelike) on the wall surface (the inner wall surface) constituting the blowpath 30 of the chassis 3. Meanwhile, the heat-insulating member may beapplied not only to the inner wall surface of the chassis 3 but also toan outer wall surface of the chassis 3. In addition, the memberconstituting the wall surface of the chassis may employ theheat-insulating member.

The heat-insulating portion 47 is disposed at least on a portionincluding the direction changing portions, the portion being included inthe wall surface (the inner wall surface) constituting the blow path 30of the chassis 3, and thus the air is suppressed from the heatexchanging on the wall surface of the blow path 30 in the directionchanging in the blow path 30 (in the hitting to the wall surface), theair being blown from the blower 5 and being to be introduced to thebattery module 7. In this manner, a temperature of the air to beintroduced to the battery module 7 is prevented from being increased inthe middle of the flowing in the blow path 30, and thereby the coolingefficiency to the battery module 7 is improved.

Additionally in the present embodiment, an cross-sectional area of theflow path 60 is formed to be smaller than the cross-sectional area ofthe air introduction path 50. Since the heat-insulating portion 47 isdisposed on the portion including the second wall surface 32 that formsthe flow path 60, the heat-insulating portion 47 disposed on the secondwall surface 32 is capable of suppressing the heat exchanging betweenthe air and the second wall surface 32 even in the flow path 60 wherethe flow speed is faster than a flow speed in the air introduction path50 and thus the heat exchanging to the second wall surface 32 tends tobe promoted.

In addition, the heat-insulating portion 47 is also disposed on thethird wall surface 33 forming the blowing path 80, thereby suppressingthe heat exchanging between the third wall surface 33 and the airflowing in the blowing path 80.

<Intermediate Path>

The intermediate path 75 facing the second intake portion 23B of thehousing chamber 13 is a path into which the air having passed throughthe air introduction path 50. The intermediate path 75 introduces theair having passed through the air introduction path 50 to the secondintake portion 23B, and supplies the air to the housing chamber 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate path 75 is formed between thebattery module 7 and the left upper portion 34 a of the fourth wallsurface 34. In the present embodiment, the intermediate path 75 isconstituted of the fourth wall surface 34 and the front surface of thebattery module 7, the front surface being opposed to the fourth wallsurface 34. That is, the fourth wall surface 34 of the chassis 3constitutes a part of the intermediate path 75. In other words, theintermediate path 75 is formed without including a duct separated fromthe chassis 3.

The intermediate path 75 extends in the upper to lower direction on theleft side of the housing chamber 13 (on a side opposed to the flow path60), and faces the second intake portion 23B. An upper end portion ofthe intermediate path 75 is communicated with an exit end portion 50 cof the air introduction path 50. In this manner, the air having reachedthe exit end portion 50 c in the air introduction path 50 is introducedto the intermediate path 75. The air introduced to the intermediate path75 is taken from the second intake portion 23B into the housing chamber13.

<Sealing Member>

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the sealing members 61 to 63are disposed in the inner space of the chassis 3. The sealing members 61to 63 are disposed to prevent the air from being introduced to theintake chamber 70 without cooling the battery module 7 (without passingthrough the housing chamber 13), the air being blown from the blowingportion 5 a of the blower 5. The sealing members include the firstsealing member 61, the second sealing member 62, and the third sealingmember 63.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first sealing member 61 is disposed beingcontacted to a whole area of a portion of the partition plate 15 a(hereinafter referred to as “a corresponding portion”), the portionbeing positioned on the side of the third wall surface (an opposite wallsurface) 33 of the partition plate 15 a and not forming the sendingportion 16. The first sealing member 61 seals between the correspondingportion of the partition plate 15 a and the bottom upper portion 33 a ofthe third wall surface 33.

In this manner, the first sealing member 61 seals between the partitionplate 15 a and the third wall surface (the opposite wall surface) 33without shielding the sending portion 16. Thus, the air blown from theblower 5 is prevented without blocking the sending of air from thesending portion 16 from directly entering the intake chamber 70 from aspace between the third wall surface (the opposite wall surface) 33 andthe partition plate 15 a (entering the intake chamber 70 without passingthrough the housing chamber 13).

In addition, the first sealing member 61 seals between the correspondingportion of the partition plate 15 a and the first plate portion 27 a ofthe partition plate 27. In this manner, the air blown from the blowingportion 5 a to the blowing path 80 is prevented from passing between thefirst plate portion 27 a and the partition plate 15 a to enter theintake chamber 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, the second sealing member 62seals between the sixth wall surface (the first vertical wall surface)36 and the first side plate 151 b of the housing 4 and between the fifthwall surface (the second vertical wall surface) 35 and the second sideplate 152 b of the housing 4. In this manner, the air blown from theblower 5 is prevented from directly entering the intake chamber 70 frombetween the sixth wall surface 36 and the first side plate 151 b andbetween the fifth wall surface 35 and the second side plate 152 b (fromentering the intake chamber 70 without passing through the housingchamber 13).

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, the third sealing member 63seals between the battery modules 7 adjacent to each other in the secondparallel direction (in the front to rear direction C). In this manner,the air taken from the first intake portion 17A into the housing chamber13 is prevented from being directly sent from the sending portion 16(from being sent from the sending portion 16 without passing through theinter-cell path 11).

<Flow of Air>

Referring to FIG. 2, the flow of air in the inner space of the chassis 3will be explained here. In FIG. 2, a flow of cool air not yet havingremoved the heat of the battery cells 8 is indicated by a white arrowedline, and a flow of warm air having removed the heat of the batterycells 8 is indicated by a black arrowed line.

The air blown from the blowing portion 5 a of the blower is introducedby the air introduction tube 5 e to the opening portion 27 c of theseparating plate 27, and passes through the opening portion 27 c to flowinto the blowing path 80. After flowing toward the side of the secondwall surface 32 (toward the right side), the air flown into the blowingpath 80 hits the first direction changing portion 30 a, thereby changesa direction of the flowing, and flows into the flow path 60.

After flowing from the side of the third wall surface 33 (the lowerside) toward the side of the first wall surface 31 (the upper side), theair flown into the flow path 60 hits the second direction changingportion 30 b, thereby changes a direction of the flowing, and flows intothe air introduction path 50. A part of the air flowing into the flowpath 60 is taken from the second intake portion 23A into the housingchamber 13 without flowing into the air introduction path 50, and flowsinto the inter-cell path 11.

The air flowing to the air introduction path 50 flows from the side ofthe second wall surface 32 (the right side) toward the side of thefourth wall surface 34 (the left side). The air blown from the blower 5continuously flows into the air introduction path 50, and thereby isunder a pressure higher than the pressure in the housing chamber 13.Thus, the air flowing in the air introduction path 50 is taken from thefirst intake portion 17A into the housing chamber 13.

A part of the air flowing in the air introduction path 50 hits the thirddirection changing portion 30 c, thereby changes a direction of theflowing, and flows into the intermediate path 75. The air flowing intothe intermediate path 75 is taken from the second intake portion 23Binto the housing chamber 13, and flows into the inter-cell path 11.

After flowing into the first inter-module path 12A, the air taken fromthe first intake portion 17A into the housing chamber 13 flows into theinter-cell path 11 of each of the plurality of battery modules 7arranged next to the first inter-module path 12A and adjacent eachother.

The air flowing from the first inter-module path 12A into the inter-cellpath 11 and the air flowing from the second intake portions 23A and 23Binto the inter-cell path 11 remove the heat of the battery cells 8 inpassing through the inter-cell path 11, and are warmed to flow to thesecond inter-module path 12B.

The air flowing into the second inter-module path 12B passes through thesending portion 16 (the first sending portion 161 and the second sendingportion 162), is sent to the outside of the housing chamber 13, and thenflows into the intake chamber 70. The air flowing into the intakechamber 70 flows downward (toward the side of the third wall surface33), and then flows into the receiving path 70 c. After passing throughthe heat exchanger 6 and being cooled, the air flowing into thereceiving path 70 c is taken into the intake portion 5 b of the blower5, and is blown from the blowing portion 5 a.

As described above, the air blown from the blower 5 circulates in theinner space of the chassis 3, and thereby cools the batteries 2. In thismanner, the batteries 2 are prevented from deterioration of theperformance caused by the increasing of temperature.

<Diffusing Portion>

As shown in FIG. 2, the diffusing portion 66 is arranged between thebatteries 2 (the battery modules 7) and the first wall surface 31. Thediffusing portion 66 diffuses the air into the inner space of thechassis 3, the air being blown from the blowing portion 5 a of theblower 5. The diffusing portion 66 is disposed on the flow path 60, anddiffuses the air that flows from the blowing path 80 into the flow path60.

An arrowed line in FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the state where theair flowing into the flow path 60 is diffused by the diffusing portion66.

The diffusing portion 66 may be a member other than (separating from)the chassis 3, and may be disposed as a part of the wall surface of thechassis 3. In the case where the diffusing portion 66 is disposed as apart of the wall surface of the chassis 3, the diffusing portion 66 isprovided by protruding a part of the wall surface of the chassis 3inward (toward the batteries 2) for example. In the case where thediffusing portion 66 is a member other than the chassis 3, the diffusingportion 66 may be attached to the chassis 3 and may be attached to thehousing chamber 4.

In the present embodiment, the diffusing portion 66 is attached to thehousing 4 in the flow path 60. The diffusing portion 66 is positioned ona center of the housing 4 in the front to rear direction C (in thesecond parallel arrangement direction of the battery modules 7). Inaddition, the diffusing portion 66 is positioned between an upper end ofthe battery module 7 and the lower end in the upper to lower direction.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, the diffusing portion 66 has anattachment plate 66 a and a wind-regulating plate 66 b.

The attachment plate 66 a is arranged on an outside of the batterymodule 7 (on the side of the second wall surface 32) and extends in theupper to lower direction. The attachment plate 66 a has a firstattachment portion 66 a 1 and a second attachment portion 66 a 2. Thefirst attachment 66 a 1 is positioned on a lower portion of theattachment plate 66 a. The first attachment portion 66 a 1 is attachedto the bottom plate (the partition plate) 15 a of the housing 4.

In particular, the first attachment portion 66 a 1 is attached to acenter of an edge (a right edge) of the bottom plate 15 a, the edgebeing arranged on the side of the flow path 60 (on the side of thesecond wall surface 32). The first attachment portion 66 a 1 extendsdownward being divided into two branches at an intermediate portion ofthe attachment plate 66 a in the upper to lower direction. The secondattachment portion 66 a 2 is positioned on an upper portion of theattachment plate 66 a. The second attachment portion 66 a 2 is attachedby a coupling member 67 to the first fixing portion 18 of the housing 4(the bracket 15), the first fixing portion 18 being arranged on the sideof the flow path 60 (on the side of the second wall surface 32). Thecoupling member 67 is a plate member extending in the front to reardirection, and couples the first fixing portion 18 on the right frontportion, the second attachment portion 66 a 2, and the first fixingportion 18 on the right rear portion to each other.

The wind-regulating plate 66 b is disposed on an intermediate portion 66a 3 (a portion between the first attachment portion 66 a 1 and thesecond attachment portion 66 a 2) of the attachment plate 66 a in theupper to lower direction. The wind-regulating plate 66 b has a baseportion 66 b 1, an inclining portion 66 b 2, and a tip end portion 66 b3. The base portion 66 b 1, the inclining portion 66 b 2, and the tipend portion 66 b 3 are formed of a single plate member bent to form thewind-regulating plate 66 b. The base portion 66 b 1 is disposed on anupper portion of the wind-regulating plate 66 b, and is attached to theintermediate portion 66 a 3 of the attachment plate 66 a. The incliningportion 66 b 2 is extended downward diagonally from the base portion 66b 1.

To be detailed, the inclining portion 66 b 2 is disposed extendingdownward in a direction separating from the base portion 66 b 1(disposed on the side of the flow path 60). A width of the incliningportion 66 b 2 in the front to rear direction is larger than a width ofthe battery cell 8 in the front to rear direction and smaller than awidth of the battery module 7 in the front to rear direction. The tipend portion 66 b 3 extends substantially-horizontally from an end of theextension of the inclining portion 66 b 2 toward the side of the flowpath 60. The tip end portion 66 b 3 of the wind-regulating plate 66 b isclose to the second wall surface 32 of the chassis 3. A width of the tipend portion 66 b 3 in the front to rear direction is smaller than thewidth of the inclining portion 66 b 2 in the front to rear direction.

That is, the side of the second wall surface 32 of the inclining portion66 b 2 includes a portion including the tip end portion 66 b 3 and aportion not including the tip end portion 66 b 3. In this manner, theair flowing in the flow path 60 on the side of the second wall surface32 of the inclining portion 66 b 2 flows without hitting thewind-regulating plate 66 b in the portion not including the tip endportion 66 b 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the diffusing portion 66 is arranged to overlap theblowing portion 5 a with at least a part of the diffusing portion 66 inthe arrangement direction of the blower 5 and the battery module 7 (inthe upper to lower direction I). In this manner, the air blown from theblowing portion 5 a is hit to the diffusing portion 66 certainly,thereby being diffused.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the diffusing portion 66is arranged on a position closer to the sixth wall surface 36 (the frontside) than to the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a in the front torear direction. In more particular, a center line 66L of the diffusingportion 66 in the front to rear direction is arranged on a positioncloser to the sixth wall surface (the front side) than to the center 5 fof the blowing portion 5 a in the front to rear direction.

In addition, the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a is positionedbetween a front end portion of the diffusing portion 66 and the rear endportion in the front to rear direction. In particular, the center 5 f ofthe blowing portion 5 a is positioned in the front to rear directionbetween a front end portion of the inclining portion 66 b 2 and the rearend portion and between a front end portion of the tip end portion 66 b3 and the rear end portion.

In other words, the blowing portion 5 a is positioned to be overlappedwith the inclining portion 66 b 2 and the tip end portion 66 b 3 in thefront to rear direction C. In this manner, the air blown from theblowing portion 5 a and flowing from the blowing path 80 into the flowpath 60 hits the inclining portion 66 b 2 and the tip end portion 66 b 3of the diffusing portion 66 in the middle of the flowing in the flowpath 60, and thus is diffused in the front to rear direction C (in thesecond parallel arrangement direction).

The air hitting the diffusing portion 66 is diffused to be introduced tothe air introduction path 50 under the state where an area of theflowing is increased and a speed of the flowing is reduced. That is, theair blown from the blowing portion 5 a hits the diffusing portion 66 tobe spread from a portion close to the blowing portion 5 a toward aportion far from the blowing portion 5 a in the front to rear direction,and thus is introduced to the air introduction path 50 under the statewhere a wind-speed distribution is averaged in the front to reardirection.

In this manner, the air in the air introduction path 50 is under ahydrostatic pressure in both of the first area 51 and the second area52. In addition, the diffusing portion 66 diffuses the air blown fromthe blowing portion 5 a in the inner space of the chassis 3 inaccordance with proportions between opening areas of the plurality offirst intake portions 17A and introduces the diffused air. To bedetailed, the diffusing portion 66 diffuses the air blown from theblowing portion 5 a to the first area 51 and the second area 52 on thebasis of (in accordance with) a ratio of an opening area S1 of the firstintake portion 17A to an opening area S2 of the first intake portion 17Aand introduces the diffused air, the opening area S1 facing the firstarea 51, the opening area S2 facing the second area 51.

In this manner, that configuration suppresses variations between avolume of air flowing from the first intake portion 17A facing the firstarea 51 into the housing chamber 13 and a volume of air flowing from thefirst intake portion 17A facing the second area 52 into the housingchamber 13. Thus, that configuration suppresses variations in each ofthe volumes of airs passing through the plurality of batteries 2 housedin the housing chamber 13. As the result, the plurality of batteries 2are cooled homogenously.

In the present embodiment, the opening area S1 is equivalent to theopening area S2. Thus, the diffusing portion 66 diffuses the air blownfrom the blowing portion 5 a into the volume of air flowing into thefirst area 51 and the volume of air flowing into the second area 52 suchthat both of the volume are equivalent to each other, and introduces thediffused air to the first area 51 and the second area 52.

In addition, the first area 51 and the second area 52 are under ahydrostatic pressure higher than the pressure in the housing chamber 13.Thus, the airs diffused and introduced to the first area 51 and thesecond area 52 equally flow into the housing chamber 13 from the firstintake portion 17A facing the first area 51 and from the first intakeportion 17A facing the second area 52.

In this manner, that configuration prevents the short-circuit caused bythe variations of the volumes of air flows, and thus homogenously coolsthe batteries 2 (the battery modules 7) housed on the housing chamber13.

Meanwhile, the diffusing portion 66 is also capable of diffusing the sirinto the first area 51 and the second area 52 on the basis of (inaccordance with) a ratio of a volume V1 of the first area 51 to a volumeV2 of the second area 52. In that case, the first area 51 and the secondarea 52 both include the airs under the hydrostatic pressure.

In that case, when a volume ratio between the first area 51 and thesecond area 52 is configured to be equivalent to the ratio between theopening area S1 and the opening area S2, the volume of air flowing intothe first intake portion 17A facing the first area 51 and the volume ofair flowing into the first intake portion 17A facing the second area 52are equivalent to each other.

As a concrete method for the diffusing portion 66 to diffuse the airblown from the blowing portion 5 a into the first area 51 and the secondarea 52 on the basis of the ratio between the opening area S1 and theopening area S2, values S1, S2, V1, and V2 are determined so as tosatisfy a relational equation of the following equation (1), forexample.S1×(1/V1)=S2×(1/V2)  Equation (1)

where S1 is an opening area of the first intake portion 17A, the openingarea facing the first area 51,

S2 is an opening area of the first intake portion 17A, the opening areafacing the second area 52,

V1 is a volume of the first area 51, and

V2 is a volume of the second area 52.

According to the equation (1) mentioned above, the airs diffused by thediffusing portion 66 and flowing into the air introduction path 50 flowhomogenously into the first intake portion 17A facing the first area 51and the first intake portion 17A facing the second area 52.

Meanwhile, the method for the diffusing portion 66 to diffuse the airblown from the blowing portion 5 a into the first area 51 and the secondarea 52 in accordance with the proportion between the opening area S1and the opening area S2 is not limited to the method based on theequation (1) mentioned above.

For example, in addition to or instead of the method based on theequation mentioned above, another method considering other facts may beemployed, the facts including a cross-sectional area of each of thefirst area 51 and the second area 52 (a cross-sectional area of theentrance end portion 50 a) and an inner shape of each of the first area51 and the second area 52, the inner shape contributing a resistance offluid.

Examples for the diffusing portion 66 to diffuse and introduce the airblown from the blowing portion 5 a to the inner space of the chassis 3on the basis of the ratio between the opening areas of the plurality offirst intake portions 17A (In particular, diffuse and introduce the airto the first area 51 and the second area 52 on the basis of the ratiobetween the opening area S1 and the opening area S2) are exemplified inFIG. 14 to FIG. 16. That is, FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 show examples of thediffusing portion 66.

FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 are views illustrating the inner space of the chassis3 in a direction corresponding to FIG. 5, and extracts and illustratesonly the blowing portion 5 a of the blower 5 and the wind-regulatingplate 66 b of the diffusing portion 66. In FIG. 14 to FIG. 16, astraight line 5L indicated by a chain line corresponds to a straightline passing through the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a in theupper to lower direction (in the arrangement direction of the blower 5and the batteries 2 (the battery modules 7)).

Meanwhile, in the following explanations, the wind-regulating plate 66 bis separated into two portions (a first portion and a second portion) onthe basis of the center 5 f of the blowing portion 5 a. However, thewind-regulating plate 66 b may be separated into the first portion andthe second portion on the basis of another portion (a portion other thanthe center 5 f) of the blowing portion 5 a. For example, in a case wherethe straight line 5L passing through the center 5 f of the blowingportion 5 a does not pass through the wind-regulating plate 66 b, thewind-regulating plate 66 b may be separated into the first portion andthe second portion on the basis of another portion other than the center5 f (for example, an edge portion) of the blowing portion 5 a.

In the example shown in FIG. 14 (a first example of the diffusingportion 66), regarding the wind-regulating plate 66 b of the diffusingportion 66, an area S3 of a portion (hereinafter referred to as a firstportion) positioned closer to the first area 51 than to the center 5 fof the blowing portion 5 a and an area S4 of a portion (hereinafterreferred to as a second portion) positioned closer to the second area 52than to the center 5 f are determined based on the opening area S1 andthe opening area S2.

For example, in the case where the value S1 is larger than the value S2(S1>S2), the value S3 is determined to be smaller than the value S4(S3<S4). In particular, the values are determined such that a ratio ofthe value S1 to the value S2 is equal to a ratio of the value S4 to thevalue S3 (S1:S2=S4:S3). Meanwhile, the area S3 and the area S4 are areasof the surfaces (wind-receiving surfaces) hit by the wind from theblowing portion 5 a.

In the example shown in FIG. 15 (a second example of the diffusingportion 66), the wind-regulating plate 66 b of the diffusing portion 66is formed to have a bent shape (a V-shape) having a boundary line (abending line) indicated by the straight line L5. To be detailed,regarding the wind-regulating plate 66 b, an angle (an inner angle) αbetween the first portion and the straight line 5L and an angle (aninner angle) β between the second portion and the straight line 5L aredetermined on the basis of the opening area S1 and the opening area S2.

For example, in the case where the value S1 is larger than the value S2(S1>S2), the angle α is determined to be smaller than the angle β (α<β).It is preferred to equalize the area of the first portion and the areaof the second portion of the wind-regulating plate 66 b. However, theareas of the first portion and the second portions may be different fromeach other.

In the example shown in FIG. 16 (a third example of the diffusingportion 66), regarding the wind-regulating plate 66 b of the diffusingportion 66, the first portion and the second portion include openings ofareas different from each other. To be detailed, an area S5 of anopening 66 c included in the first portion and an area S6 of an opening66 c included in the first portion are determined on the basis of theopening area S1 and the opening area S2.

For example, in the case where the value S1 is larger than the value S2(S1>S2), the value S5 is determined to be larger than the value S6(S5<S6). In particular, the values are determined such that a ratio ofthe value S1 to the value S2 is equal to a ratio of the value S5 to thevalue S6 (S1:S2=S5:S6). It is preferred to equalize the area of thefirst portion of and the area of the second portion of thewind-regulating plate 66 b. However, the areas of the first portion andthe second portions may be different from each other.

The examples (the first to third embodiments) shown in FIG. 14 to FIG.16 may be solely employed and may be employed in combination of twoexamples or more. For example, the configuration based on the area(shown in FIG. 14) and the configuration based on the angle (shown inFIG. 15) may be combined and employed.

In addition, the other facts described above (such as the inner shape ofeach of the first area 51 and the second area 52, the inner shapecontributing a resistance of fluid) may be considered in employing theexamples shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 16.

<Specification of Power Source Apparatus>

The power source apparatus 1 has a configuration where the other side ofthe batteries 2 (the side of the first wall surface 31) in the chassis 3is positioned far from a heat source arranged outside the chassis 3(hereinafter referred to as an external heat source) than from the oneside of the batteries 3 (the side of the third wall surface 33) in thechassis 3 under the installed state (under the operating state). Theexternal heat source is an engine 113 of the working machine 100described below, for example.

In that configuration, the air introduction path 50 is positioned farfrom the external heat source than from the blower 5. In this manner,the air introduced into the air introduction path 50 is prevented frombeing warmed by the external heat source, and the cooling efficiency ofthe batteries 2 is improved.

In addition, the power source apparatus 1 has a configuration where thethird wall surface is arranged above the external heat source under theinstalled state. To be detailed, the power source apparatus 1 has aconfiguration where the third wall surface 33 is separated from theexternal heat source at a smaller distance compared to the first wallsurface 31 in the upper to lower direction under the installed state. Inthat configuration, the third wall surface 33 is warmed by the externalheat source.

Thus, in the case where a temperature of the air flowing inside thethird wall surface 33 is low, the heat exchanging between the air andthe third wall surface 33 is easily achieved. In the present embodiment,the receiving path 70 c formed between the third wall surface 33 and theheat exchanger 6 receives the air not yet having been cooled by the heatexchanger 6, and thus a temperature of the air flowing in the receivingpath 70 c is high. Thus, the heat exchanging between the air and thethird wall surface 33 is not easily achieved.

<Others>

The power source apparatus 1 has a battery management unit not shown inthe drawings. The battery management unit is a device configured tomanage an accumulation amount and the like of the batteries 2 of thepower source apparatus 1. The battery management unit has an inputcircuit, a microcomputer, and an output circuit. A storing portion (astorage) of the microcomputer sequentially accumulates data of thebatteries such as a battery voltage, a charging current, a dischargingcurrent, a battery temperature, and the like of the batteries 2.

In addition, the battery management unit is capable of working as acontrol device configured to control operations of the blower 5. Thebattery management unit is configured to communicate to various types ofelectronic control apparatus mounted on the working machine 100described below.

The power source apparatus 1 according to the present invention ismounted on a vehicle, for example. The vehicle is a hybrid vehicleemploying a drive source that combines an engine and a motor, anelectric vehicle employing an electric motor as the drive source, andthe like. The vehicle includes a working vehicle having an operationdevice (a working machine) in addition to an automobile.

In addition, the power source apparatus 1 may be mounted on a movingmachine other than the vehicle, for example, on an air plane and avessel. The power source apparatus 1 may be mounted not only on themoving machine but also on other devices (a stationary device and thelike).

<Working Machine>

FIG. 17 is a side view illustrating the working machine 100 according tothe embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows a compact trackloader as an example of the working machine 100. However, the workingmachine 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to thecompact track loader, and may be other types of working machines (aworking vehicle) such as a skid steer loader.

The working machine 100 includes a machine body 101, an operation device102 attached to the machine body 101, and a travel device 103 supportingthe machine body 101.

In explanations of the working machine 100, a forward direction (adirection to the left in FIG. 17) corresponds to a front side of anoperator seated on an operator seat 105 of the working machine 100, abackward direction (a direction to the right in FIG. 17) corresponds toa back side of the operator, a leftward direction (a directionvertically extending from a back surface to a front surface of FIG. 17)corresponds to a left side of the operator, and a rightward direction (adirection vertically extending from the front surface to the backsurface of FIG. 17) corresponds to a right side of the operator. Inaddition, a direction called a machine width direction corresponds to ahorizontal direction that is a direction perpendicular to the front torear direction of the machine body 101.

A cabin 104 is mounted on a front upper portion of the machine body 101.The operator seat 105 is arranged in the cabin 104. The travel devices103 are arranged on a right lower portion of and a left lower portion ofthe machine body 101, and configured to be driven by a hydraulicpressure.

The operation device 102 includes a boom 106L disposed to the left, aboom 106R disposed to the right, and an operation tool 107 attached tothe tip ends of the booms 106L and 106R. The operation tool 107 is abucket in the present embodiment. However, another operation tool may beattached to the booms instead of the bucket. The booms 106L and 106R aresupported by a first lift link 108 and the second lift link 109.

The booms 106L and 106R are swung upward and downward by a lift cylinder110 constituted of a hydraulic cylinder that is configured to bestretched and shortened. The operation tool 107 is attached to the tipends of the booms 106L and 106R by an attachment bracket 111. Theoperation tool 107 is swung (in a shoveling movement and a dumpingmovement) by a tilt cylinder 112 constituted of a hydraulic cylinderthat is configured to be stretched and shortened.

As shown in FIG. 17, the machine body 101 is provided with an engine (adiesel engine) 113, a rotating electrical apparatus 114, and a drivedevice 115.

The engine 113 is arranged on a rear portion of the machine body 101.The engine 113 generates a motive power supplied to drive the operationdevice 102.

The rotating electrical apparatus 114 is constituted of any one of anelectric power generator, an electric motor, and an electric motorgenerator (a motor generator). In the present embodiment, the rotatingelectrical apparatus 114 employs the motor generator. The rotatingelectrical apparatus 114 is arranged forward from the engine 113.

The drive device 115 is a device configured to be driven by the engine113 and/or the rotating electrical apparatus 114 and to generate amotive power mainly to drive the operation device 102. In particular,the drive device 115 is a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuatorincludes a hydraulic pump configured to supply an operation fluid to ahydraulic device mounted on the working machine 100.

In addition, the power source apparatus 1 is arranged on the machinebody 101.

The upper, lower, left, and right directions of the power sourceapparatus 1 (the directions indicated by the arrowed lines in FIG. 1 toFIG. 8) previously explained (defined) are identical to the upper,lower, left, and right directions of the working machine 100. Thus, thefirst wall surface 31 of the chassis 3 is arranged on the upper side ofthe working machine 100, the second wall surface 32 is arranged on theright side of the working machine 100, the third wall surface 33 isarranged on the lower side of the working machine 100, the fourth wallsurface 34 is arranged on the left side of the working machine 100, thefifth wall surface 35 is arranged on the rear side of the workingmachine 100, and the sixth wall surface 36 is arranged on the front sideof the working machine 100, respectively.

The power source apparatus 1 accumulates the electric power generated bythe rotating electrical apparatus 114 and supplies the accumulatedelectric power to the rotating electrical apparatus 114 and the like.The configuration of the power source apparatus 1 is explained above.The power source apparatus 1 is arranged around the engine 113, and isexposed to the heat generated by the engine 113.

In the present embodiment, the power source apparatus 1 is arrangedabove the engine 113. However, the power source apparatus 1 may bearranged to the right of the engine 113, arranged to the left of theengine 113, arranged below the engine 113, arranged behind the engine113, and the like. When the power source apparatus 1 is arranged aroundthe engine 113, an atmosphere temperature around the power sourceapparatus 1 can be increased by the heat (the radiation heat) to atemperature zone in which the power source apparatus 1 operatesefficiently, the radiation heat being generated by the engine 113.

Thus, the power source apparatus 1 is warmed by the driving of theengine 113 without a heater for warming the power source apparatus 1. Inaddition, when the power source apparatus 1 is arranged above the engine113, the temperature of the power source apparatus 1 is quicklyincreased. In this manner, the power source apparatus 1 starts up in ashort time even in the case where the working machine 100 is driven inthe cold district and the like.

The engine 113 is arranged on an outside portion of the chassis 3 of thepower source apparatus 1 (below the power source apparatus 1), theoutside portion being positioned on the side of the third wall surface33. As the result, the engine 113 is positioned below the wall surface(the second wall surface 32 and the third wall surface 33) on which theheat-insulating portion 47 of the chassis 3 is disposed (refer to FIG.2).

In this manner, the heat-insulating portion 47 suppresses the heat onthe wall surface from conducting to the inner space of the chassis 3even when the air warmed by the heat (the radiation heat) moves upwardin the machine body 101, the heat being generated by the engine 113 andthe heat warms the wall surface (the second wall surface 32 and thethird wall surface 33) of the chassis 3. Thus, the heat-insulatingportion 47 prevents the cooling efficiency of the batteries 2 obtainedby the driving of the blower 5 from being deteriorated due to thetemperature increased in the inner space of the chassis 3 by the heatgenerated by the engine 113.

The engine 113 is arranged on an outside portion of the chassis of thepower source apparatus 1 (below the chassis 3), the outside portionbeing positioned on the side of the third wall surface 33. That is, theengine 113 is arranged on an outside portion opposite to the airintroduction path 50 of the chassis 3. In this manner, the air not yethaving flown from the air introduction path 50 of the chassis 3 into thehousing chamber 13 is prevented from being warmed by the heat that isgenerated by the engine 113, and thereby the cooling efficiency of thebatteries is improved.

The working machine 100 is capable of driving the drive device 115 withuse of the driving power of the engine 113, driving the drive device 115with used of both of the engine 113 and the rotating electricalapparatus 114, and generating electricity by activating the rotatingelectrical apparatus 114 with use of the driving power of the engine113. That is, the working machine 100 according to the presentembodiment is a working machine employing the parallel hybrid system.

In the above description, the embodiment of the present invention hasbeen explained. However, all the features of the embodiments disclosedin this application should be considered just as examples, and theembodiments do not restrict the present invention accordingly. A scopeof the present invention is shown not in the above-described embodimentsbut in claims, and is intended to include all modifications within andequivalent to a scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power source apparatus comprising: a pluralityof batteries; a blower having a blowing portion arranged on one side ofthe batteries, the blower being configured to blow air from the blowingportion; a chassis having an inner space surrounded by a plurality ofwall surfaces that include a first wall surface and a second wallsurface and storing the batteries in the inner space, the first wallsurface being arranged on the other side of the batteries, the otherside being opposite to the one side of the batteries, the second wallsurface being connected to the first wall surface and extending from thefirst wall surface toward the blower; an air introduction path formedbetween the first wall surface and the batteries, the air introductionpath being configured to introduce the air to the batteries; a flow pathformed between the second wall surface and the batteries, the flow pathbeing configured to introduce the air blown from the blower to the airintroduction path, the air introduction path having at least partially afirst cross-sectional area larger than a second cross-sectional area ofthe flow path; and a housing forming a housing chamber configured tohouse the batteries, the housing being included in the chassis, andhaving an intake portion on a side of the first wall surface, the intakeportion being configured to take air into the housing chamber, whereinthe air introduction path has a fifth cross-sectional area larger thanthe second cross-sectional area of the flow path in a section extendingfrom the inlet-end portion of the air introduction path to a portionfacing the intake portion of the housing.
 2. A working machinecomprising: a machine body; an operation device disposed on the machinebody; a rotating electrical apparatus to generate a motive power usedfor driving the operation device; and a power source apparatus to supplyan electric power to the rotating electrical apparatus, the power sourceapparatus having a configuration according to claim
 1. 3. The workingmachine according to claim 2, comprising: an engine to generate a powerto drive the operation device, wherein the plurality of wall surfacesincludes a third wall surface disposed on the one side of the batteries,and wherein the engine is arranged outside the chassis on the side ofthe third wall surface.
 4. The working machine according to claim 3,wherein the power source apparatus includes a heat exchanger arranged onthe one side of the batteries, wherein the blower is arranged betweenthe heat exchanger and the batteries, and wherein a receiving path isformed between the third wall surface and the heat exchanger, thereceiving path being configured to receive the air not yet having beencooled by the heat exchanger.
 5. A power source apparatus comprising: aplurality of batteries; a blower having a blowing portion arranged onone side of the batteries, the blower being configured to blow air fromthe blowing portion; a chassis having an inner space surrounded by aplurality of wall surfaces that include a first wall surface and asecond wall surface and storing the batteries in the inner space, thefirst wall surface being arranged on the other side of the batteries,the other side being opposite to the one side of the batteries, thesecond wall surface being connected to the first wall surface andextending from the first wall surface toward the blower; an airintroduction path formed between the first wall surface and thebatteries, the air introduction path being configured to introduce theair to the batteries; a flow path formed between the second wall surfaceand the batteries, the flow path being configured to introduce the airblown from the blower to the air introduction path, the air introductionpath having at least partially a first cross-sectional area larger thana second cross-sectional area of the flow path; and a heat exchangerarranged on the one side of the batteries, wherein the blower has anintake portion configured to take air cooled by the heat exchanger.
 6. Aworking machine comprising: a machine body; an operation device disposedon the machine body; a rotating electrical apparatus to generate amotive power used for driving the operation device; and a power sourceapparatus to supply an electric power to the rotating electricalapparatus, the power source apparatus having a configuration accordingto claim
 5. 7. A power source apparatus comprising: a plurality ofbatteries; a blower having a blowing portion arranged on one side of thebatteries, the blower being configured to blow air from the blowingportion; a chassis having an inner space surrounded by a plurality ofwall surfaces that include a first wall surface and a second wallsurface and storing the batteries in the inner space, the first wallsurface being arranged on the other side of the batteries, the otherside being opposite to the one side of the batteries, the second wallsurface being connected to the first wall surface and extending from thefirst wall surface toward the blower; an air introduction path formedbetween the first wall surface and the batteries, the air introductionpath being configured to introduce the air to the batteries; and a flowpath formed between the second wall surface and the batteries, the flowpath being configured to introduce the air blown from the blower to theair introduction path, the air introduction path having at leastpartially a first cross-sectional area larger than a secondcross-sectional area of the flow path, wherein the other side of thebatteries in the chassis is positioned far from a heat source than fromthe one side of the batteries in the chassis, the heat source beingarranged outside the chassis, and wherein the blower is disposed in thechassis and positioned on the one side of the batteries in the chassis.8. The power source apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theplurality of wall surfaces include a third wall surface positioned onthe one side of the batteries, wherein the blower is arranged betweenthe third wall surface and the batteries, wherein the heat exchanger isarranged between the third wall surface and the blower and has an intakeportion on a side of the third wall surface, the intake portion beingconfigured to take air passing through the batteries, and wherein theblowing portion is arranged facing the second wall surface.
 9. The powersource apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the intake portion isarranged facing the third wall surface.
 10. The power source apparatusaccording to claim 8, comprising a receiving path formed between thethird wall surface and the heat exchanger, the receiving path beingconfigured to receive the air not yet having been cooled by the heatexchanger.
 11. A working machine comprising: a machine body; anoperation device disposed on the machine body; a rotating electricalapparatus to generate a motive power used for driving the operationdevice; and a power source apparatus to supply an electric power to therotating electrical apparatus, the power source apparatus having aconfiguration according to claim
 7. 12. A power source apparatuscomprising: a battery module including a plurality of batteries; ahousing constituting a housing chamber configured to house the batterymodule; a blower arranged on one side of the battery module, the blowerincluding: a blowing portion to blow air; and an intake portion to takethe air; a chassis having an inner space surrounded by a plurality ofwall surfaces that include a first wall surface, a second wall surface,and a third surface and storing the housing in the inner space, thefirst wall surface being disposed on the other side of the batterymodule, the other side being opposite to the one side of the module, thesecond wall surface being connected to the first wall surface andextending from the first wall surface toward the blower; the third wallsurface being disposed on the one side of the battery module and beingopposed to the first wall surface; an air introduction path formedbetween the first surface wall and the battery module, the airintroduction path being configured to introduce the air that is to betaken into the housing chamber and being under a pressure higher than apressure in the housing chamber; an intake chamber formed between thethird wall surface and the battery module, the intake chamber having theintake portion and being under a pressure lower than the pressure in thehousing chamber; and a communication path formed between the second wallsurface and the battery module, the communication path passing outsidethe housing chamber and coupling the air introduction path to theblowing portion.
 13. The power source apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the communication path includes a blow path disposed adjacent tothe intake chamber between the intake chamber and the second wallsurface and communicated with the blowing portion, and wherein aseparating plate is disposed between the blow path and the intakechamber, the separating plate being configured to separate the blow pathfrom the intake chamber.
 14. The power source apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the chassis includes: a first side wall connected tothe third wall surface, the first side wall constituting a part of theintake chamber and the blow path; and a second side wall connected tothe third wall surface, the second side wall being opposed to the firstside wall, and wherein the separating plate is disposed between thefirst side wall and the second side wall.
 15. The power source apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the housing includes a partition plate onwhich the battery module is arranged, the partition plate beingconfigured to partition the housing chamber from the intake chamber, andwherein the separating plate includes: a first plate portion arrangedopposed to the partition plate; and a second plate extending from thefirst plate portion in a direction of separating from the partitionplate and being disposed extending from the first side wall to thesecond side wall.
 16. The power source apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the partition plate includes a sending portion to send the airto the intake chamber, the air having been taken into the housingchamber, and wherein the separating plate is disposed on a positioncloser to the second wall surface than to the sending portion.
 17. Thepower source apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a sealingmember to seal between the first plate portion and the partition plate.18. A working machine comprising: a machine body; an operation devicedisposed on the machine body; a rotating electrical apparatus togenerate a motive power used for driving the operation device; and apower source apparatus to supply an electric power to the rotatingelectrical apparatus, the power source apparatus having a configurationaccording to claim 12.